» 


Warrior  Gap 

A  Story  of  the  Sioux  Outbreak  of  '68. 


BY 


GENERAL  CHARLES  KING,  U.  S,  A, 


AUTHOR    OP 

cFort  Frayne,"    "An  Army  Wife,"  "Trumpeter   Fred,' 

"Found  in  the  Philippines,"  "A  Wounded  Name," 

••Noble  Blood    and  a  West  Point    Parallel," 

••A  Garrison  Tangle,"    etc.,    etc. 


THE    HOBART    COMPANY, 

New  York  City. 


Copyrighted    8gs  by 
F.  Tennyson  Neely. 

Copyrig-hfed,  iqoi,  by 
The  Hobait  Company. 


WARRIOR   GAP. 


i. 

RIDING  at  ease  in  the  lazy  afternoon  sunshine  a 
single  troop  of  cavalry  was  threading  its  way  in 
long  column  of  twos  through  the  bold  and  beautiful 
foothills  of  the  Big  Horn.  Behind  them,  glinting  in 
the  slanting  rays,  Cloud  Peak,  snow  clad  still 
although  it  was  late  in  May,  towered  above  the  pine- 
crested  summits  of  the  range.  To  the  right  and 
left  of  the  winding  trail  bare  shoulders  of  bluff, 
covered  only  by  the  dense  carpet  of  bunch  grass, 
jutted  out  into  the  comparative  level  of  the  east 
ward  plain.  A  clear,  cold,  sparkling  stream,  on 
whose  banks  the  little  command  had  halted  for  a 
noontide  rest,  went  rollicking  away  northeastward, 
and  many  a  veteran  trooper  looked  longingly,  even 
regretfully,  after  it,  and  then  cast  a  gloomy  glance 
over  the  barren  and  desolate  stretch  ahead.  Far  as 
the  eye  could  reach  in  that  direction  the  earth  waves 
heaved  and  rolled  in  unrelieved  monotony  to  the 
«ky  line,  save  where  here  and  there  along  the 

M2538 


OAP. 


or  scattered  dots  of  buffalo  were 
"grazing  uri  vexed"  by  hunters  red  or  white,  for  this 
was  thirty  years  ago,  when,  in  countless  thousands, 
the  bison  covered  the  westward  prairies,  and  there 
were  officers  who  forbade  their  senseless  slaughter 
to  make  food  only  for  the  worthless,  prowling 
coyotes.  No  wonder  the  trooper  hated  to  leave  the 
foothills  of  the  mountains,  with  the  cold,  clear  trout 
streams  and  the  bracing  air,  to  take  to  long  days' 
marching  over  dull  waste  and  treeless  prairie, 
covered  only  by  sage  brush,  rent  and  torn  by  dry 
ravines,  shadeless,  springless,  almost  waterless,  save 
where  in  unwholesome  hollows  dull  pools  of  stag 
nant  water  still  held  out  against  the  sun,  or,  further 
still  southeast  among  the  "breaks"  of  the  many  forks 
of  the  South  Cheyenne,  on  the  sandy  flats  men  dug 
for  water  for  their  suffering  horses,  yet  shrank  from 
drinking  it  themselves  lest  their  lips  should  crack 
and  bleed  through  the  shriveling  touch  of  the 
alkali. 

Barely  two  years  a  commissioned  officer,  the 
young  lieutenant  at  the  head  of  column  rode  buoy 
antly  along,  caring  little  for  the  landscape,  since 
with  every  traversed  mile  he  found  himself  just 
that  much  nearer  home.  Twenty-five  summers, 
counting  this  one  coming,  had  rolled  over  his  curly 
head,  and  each  one  had  seemed  brighter,  happier 


WARRIOR  GAP.  5 

than  the  last,  all  but  the  one  he  spent  as  a  hard- 
worked  "  plebe "  at  the  military  academy.  His 
graduation  summer  two  years  previous  was  a  glory 
to  him,  as  well  as  to  a  pretty  sister,  young  and  en 
thusiastic  enough  to  think  a  brother  in  the  regulars, 
just  out  of  West  Point,  something  to  be  made  much 
of,  and  Jessie  Dean  had  lost  no  opportunity  of  spoil 
ing  her  soldier  or  of  wearying  her  school  friends 
through  telling  of  his  manifold  perfections.  He 
was  a  manly,  stalwart,  handsome  fellow  as  young 
graduates  go,  and  old  ones  wish  they  might  go  over 
again.  He  was  a  fond  and  not  too  teasing  kind  of 
brother.  He  wasn't  the  brightest  fellow  in  the 
class  by  thirty  odd,  and  had  barely  scraped  through 
one  or  two  of  his  examinations,  but  Jessie  proudly 
pointed  to  the  fact  that  much  more  than  half  the 
class  had  "scraped  off"  entirely,  and  therefore  that 
those  who  succeeded  in  getting  through  at  all  were 
paragons,  especially  Brother  Marshall.  But  girls 
at  that  school  had  brothers  of  their  own,  girls  who 
had  never  seen  West  Point  or  had  the  cadet  fever, 
and  were  not  impressed  with  young  officers  as 
painted  by  so  indulgent  a  sister.  Most  of  the  girls 
had  tired  of  Jessie's  talks,  and  some  had  told  her 
so,  but  there  was  one  who  had  been  sympathetic 
from  the  start — a  far  Western,  friendless  sort  of 
girl  she  was  when  first  she  entered  school,  uncouthly 


6  WARRIOR  GAP. 

dressed,  wretchedly  homesick  and  anything  but 
companionable,  and  yet  Jessie  Dean's  kind  heart 
had  warmed  to  this  friendless  waif  and  she  became 
her  champion,  her  ally,  and  later,  much  to  her  gen 
uine  surprise,  almost  her  idol.  It  presently  trans 
pired  that  "  the  Pappoose,"  as  the  girls  nicknamed 
her  because  it  was  learned  that  she  had  been  rocked 
in  an  Indian  cradle  and  had  long  worn  moccasins 
instead  of  shoes  (which  accounted  for  her  feet  being 
so  much  finer  in  their  shape  than  those  of  her  fel 
lows),  was  quick  and  intelligent  beyond  her  years, 
that,  though  apparently  hopelessly  behind  in  all 
their  studies  at  the  start,  and  provoking  ridicule 
and  sneers  during  the  many  weeks  of  her  loneliness 
and  home-longing,  she  suddenly  began  settling  to 
her  work  with  grim  determination,  surprising  her 
teachers  and  amazing  her  mates  by  the  vim  and 
originality  of  her  methods,  and,  before  the  end  of 
the  year,  climbing  for  the  laurels  with  a  mental 
strength  and  agility  that  put  other  efforts  to  the 
blush.  Then  came  weeks  of  bliss  spent  with  a 
doting  father  at  Niagara,  the  seashore  and  the 
Point — a  dear  old  dad  as  ill  at  ease  in  Eastern  cir 
cles  as  his  daughter  had  been  at  first  at  school,  until 
he  found  himself  welcomed  with  open  arms  to  the 
officers'  mess-rooms  at  the  Point,  for  John  Folsom 
was  as  noted  a  frontiersman  as  ever  trod  the  plains, 


WARRIOR  GAP.  7 

a  man  old  officers  of  the  cavalry  and  infantry  knew 
and  honored  as  "  a  square  trader "  in  the  Indian 
country — a  man  whom  the  Indians  themselves  loved 
and  trusted  far  and  wide,  and  when  a  man  has  won 
the  trust  and  faith  of  an  Indian  let  him  grapple  it 
to  his  breast  as  a  treasure  worth  the  having,  great 
even  as  "  the  heart  love  of  a  child."  Sioux,  Shos- 
hone  and  Cheyenne,  they  would  turn  to  "  Old  John'; 
in  their  councils,  their  dealings,  their  treaties,  their 
perplexities,  for  when  he  said  a  thing  was  right  and 
square  their  doubts  were  gone,  and  there  at  the 
Point  the  now  well-to-do  old  trader  met  men  who 
had  known  him  in  by-gone  days  at  Laramie  and 
Omaha,  and  there  his  pretty  schoolgirl  daughter 
met  her  bosom  friend's  big  brother  Marshall,  a  first 
classman  in  all  his  glory,  dancing  with  damsels  in 
society,  while  she  was  but  a  maiden  shy  in  short 
dresses.  Oh,  how  Jess  had  longed  to  be  of  that 
party  to  the  Point,  but  her  home  was  in  the  far 
West,  her  father  long  dead  and  buried,  her  mother 
an  invalid,  and  the  child  was  needed  there. 
Earnestly  had  old  Folsom  written,  begging  that  she 
who  had  been  so  kind  to  his  little  girl  should  be  al 
lowed  to  visit  the  seashore  and  the  Poini  with  him 
and  "  Pappose,"  as  he  laughingly  referred  to  her, 
adopting*  the  school  name  given  by  the  girls  ;  but 
were  proud  people,  were  the  Deans,  and  poor 


8  WARR1CE  GAP. 

and  sensitive.  They  thanked  Mr.  Folsom  warmly. 
"Jessie  was  greatly  needed  at  her  home  this 
summer,"  was  the  answer ;  but  Folsom  somehow 
felt  it  was  because  they  dreaded  to  accept  courtesies 
they  could  not  repay  in  kind. 

"  As  if  I  could  ever  repay  Jess  for  all  the  loving- 
kindness  to  my  little  girl  in  her  loneliness,"  said  he. 
No,  there  was  no  delicious  visiting-  with  Pappoose 
that  summer,  but  with  what  eager  interest  had  she 
not  devoured  the  letters  telling  of  the  wonderful 
sights  the  little  far  Westerner  saw — the  ocean,  the 
great  Niagara,  the  beautiful  Point  in  the  heart  of 
the  Highlands,  but,  above  all,  that  crowned  mon 
arch',  that  plumed  knight,  that  incomparable  big 
brother,  Cadet  Captain  Marshall  Dean.  Yes,  he 
had  come  to  call  the  very  evening  of  their  arrival. 
He  had  escorted  them  out,  Papa  and  Pappoose,  to 
hear  the  band  playing  on  the  Plain.  lie  had  made 
her  take  his  arm,  "a  schoolgirl  in  short  dresses," 
and  promenaded  with  her  up  and  down  the  beauti 
ful,  shaded  walks,  thronged  with  ladies,  officers  and 
cadets,  while  some  old  cronies  took  father  away  to 
the  mess  for  a  julep,  and  Mr.  Dean  had  introduced 
some  young  girls,  professors'  daughters,  and  they 
had  come  and  taken  her  driving  and  to  tea,  and  she 
had  seen  him  every  day,  many  times  a  day,  at  guard 
mounting,  drill,  pontooning  or  parade?  or  on 


WARRIOR  GAP.  9 

hotel  piazzas,  but  only  to  look  at  or  speak  to  for  a 
minute,  for  of  course  she  was  "only  a  child,"  and 
there  were  dozens  of  society  girls,  young  ladies,  to 
whom  he  had  to  be  attentive,  especially  a  very  stylish 
Miss  Brockwray,  from  New  York,  with  whom  he 
walked  and  danced  a  great  deal,  and  whom  the 
other  girls  tried  to  tease  about  him.  Pappoose 
didn't  write  it  in  so  many  words,  but  Jessie,  read 
ing  those  letters  between  the  lines  and  every  which 
way,  could  easily  divine  that  Pappoose  didn't  fancy 
Miss  Brockway  at  all.  And  then  had  come  a  won 
derful  day,  a  wonderful  thing,  into  the  schoolgirl's 
life.  No  less  than  twelve  pages  did  sixteen-year-old 
Pappoose  take  to  tell  it,  and  when  a  girl  finds  time 
to  write  a  twelve  page  letter  from  the  Point  she 
has  more  to  tell  than  she  can  possibly  contain.  Mr. 
Dean  had  actually  invited  her — her,  Elinor  Mer 
chant  Folsom — Winona,  as  they  called  her  when 
she  was  a  toddler  among  the  tepees  of  the  Sioux — 
Pappoose  as  the  girls  had  named  her  at  school — 
"  Nell,"  as  Jessie  called  her — sweetest  name  of  all 
despite  the  ring  of  sadness  that  ever  hangs  about  it 
— and  Daddy  had  actually  smiled  and  approved  her 
going  to  the  midweek  hop  on  a  cadet  captain's 
broad  chevroned  arm,  and  she  had  worn  her  pretti 
est  white  gown,  and  the  girls  had  brought  her  roses, 
]Vlr.  Pe^n  had  called  for  her  before  all  the  big 


10  WARRIOR  GAP. 

girls,  and  she  had  gone  off  with  him,  radiant,  and 
he  had  actually  made  out  her  card  for  her,  and 
taken  three  dances  himself,  and  had  presented  such 
pleasant  fellows — first  classmen  and  "  yearlings." 
There  was  Mr.  Billings,  the  cadet  adjutant,  and  Mr, 
Ray,  who  was  a  cadet  sergeant  "  cut  on  furlough  " 
and  kept  back,  but  such  a  beautiful  dancer,  and 
there  was  the  first  captain,  such  a  witty,  brilliant 
fellow,  who  only  danced  square  dances,  and  several 
cadet  corporals,  all  hop  managers,  in  their  red 
sashes.  Why,  she  was  just  the  proudest  girl  in 
the  room  \  And  when  the  drum  beat  and  the  hop 
broke  up  she  couldn't  believe  she'd  been  there  an 
hour  and  three-quarters,  and  then  Mr.  Dean  escorted 
her  back  to  the  hotel,  and  Daddy  had  smiled  and 
looked  on  and  told  him  he  must  come  into  the 
cavalry  when  he  graduated  next  June,  and  he'd 
show  him  the  Sioux  country  and  Pappoose  wi/ild 
teach  him  the  Indian  dances.  It  was  all  simply 
lovely.  Of  course  she  knew  it  was  all  due  to  Jessie 
that  her  splendid  big  brother  should  give  up  a 
whole  evening  from  his  lady  friends.  (Miss  Brock- 
way  spoke  so  patronizingly  to  her  in  the  hall  when 
the  girls  were  all  talking  together  after  the  cadets 
had  scurried  away  to  answer  tattoo  roll-call.)  Of 
course  she  understood  that  if  it  hadn't  been  for 
Jessie  none  of  the  cadets  would  have  taken 


WARRIOR  GAP.  11 

slightest  notice  of  her,  a  mere  chit,  with  three 
years  of  school  still  ahead  of  her.  But  all  the  same 
it  was  something  to  live  over  and  over  again,  and 
dream  of  over  and  over  again,  and  the  seashore 
seemed  very  stupid  after  the  Point.  Next  year — 
next  June — when  Marshall  graduated  Jessie  was  to 
go  and  see  that  wonderful  spot,  and  go  she  did  with 
Pappoose,  too,  and  though  it  was  all  as  beautiful  as 
Pappoose  had  described,  and  the  scene  and  the 
music  and  the  parades  and  all  were  splendid,  there 
was  no  deliriously  lovely  hop,  for  in  those  days 
there  could  be  no  dancing  in  the  midst  of  examina 
tions.  There  was  only  the  one  great  ball  given  by 
the  second  to  the  graduating  class,  and  Marshall 
had  so  many,  many  other  and  older  girls  to  dance 
with  and  say  good-by  to  he  had  only  time  for  a  few 
words  with  his  sister  and  her  shy,  silent  little  friend 
with  the  big  brown  eyes  to  whom  he  had  been  so 
kind  the  previous  summer,  when  there  were  three 
hops  a  week  and  not  so  many  hoppers  in  long 
dresses.  Still,  Marshall  had  one  dance  with  each 
and  introduced  nice  boys  from  the  lower  classes, 
and  it  was  all  very  well,  only  not  what  Pappoose 
had  painted,  and  Jessie  couldn't  help  thinking  and 
saying  it  might  all  have  been  so  much  sweeter  if  it 
hadn't  been  for  that  odious  Miss  Brock  way,  about 
whom  Marshall  hovered  altogether  top  much,  but. 


12  WAERIOR  GAP. 

like  the  little  Indian  the  girls  sometimes  said  she 
was,  Pappoose  looked  on  and  said  nothing. 

All  the  same,  Mr.  Dean  had  had  a  glorious  grad 
uation  summer  of  it,  though  Jessie  saw  too  little  of 
him,  and  Pappoose  nothing  at  all  after  the  break 
up  of  the  class.  In  September  the  girls  returned 
to  school,  friends  as  close  as  ever,  even  though  a 
little  cloud  overshadowed  the  hitherto  unbroken 
confidences,  and  Marshall  joined  the  cavalry,  as  old 
Folsom  had  suggested,  and  took  to  the  saddle,  the 
prairie,  the  bivouac,  and  buffalo  hunt  as  though  na 
tive  and  to  the  manner  born.  They  were  building 
the  Union  Pacific  then,  and  he  and  his  troop,  with 
dozens  of  others  scattered  along  the  line,  were  busy 
scouting  the  neighborhood,  guarding  the  surveyors, 
the  engineers,  and  finally  the  track-layers,  for  the 
jealous  red  men  swarmed  in  myriads  all  along  the 
way,  lacking  only  unanimity,  organization,  and  lead 
ership  to  enable  them  to  defeat  the  enterprise.  And 
then  when  the  whistling  engines  passed  the  fo^ks  of 
the  Platte  and  began  to  climb  up  the  long  slope  of  the 
Kockies  to  Cheyenne  and  Sherman  Pass,  the  trouble 
and  disaffection  spread  to  tribes  far  more  numerous 
and  powerful  further  to  the  north  and  northwest; 
and  there  rose  above  the  hordes  of  warriors  a  chief 
whose  name  became  the  synonym  for  deep  rooted 
determined  hostility  to  the  whites  —  Mach- 


GAP.  13 

pealota  (Red  Cloud)— and  old  John  Folsom, he  whom 
the  Indians  loved  and  trusted,  grew  anxious  and 
troubled,  and  went  from  post  to  post  with  words  of 
warning  on  his  tongue. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said  to  the  commissioners  who 
came  to  treat  with  the  Sioux  whose  hunting  grounds 
adjoined  the  line  of  the  railway,  "  it's  all  very  well 
to  have  peace  with  these  people  here.  It  is  wise  to 
cultivate  the  friendship  of  such  chiefs  as  Spotted 
Tail  and  Old-Man- Afraid-of-His-Horses  but  there 
are  irreconcilables  beyond  them,  far  more  numerous 
and  powerful,  who  are  planning,  preaching  war  this 
minute.  Watch  Eed  Cloud,  Ked  Dog,  Little  Big 
Man.  Double,  treble  your  garrisons  at  the  posts 
along  the  Big  Horn ;  get  your  women  and  children 
out  of  them,  or  else  abandon  the  forts  entirely.  I 
know  those  warriors  well.  They  outnumber  you 
twenty  to  one.  Reinforce  your  garrisons  without 
delay  or  get  out  of  that  country,  one  of  the  two. 
Draw  everything  south  of  the  Platte  while  yet  there 
is  time." 

But  wiseacres  at  Washington  said  the  Indians 
were  peaceable,  and  all  that  was  needed  was  a  new 
post  and  another  little  garrison  at  Warrior  Gap,  in 
the  eastward  foothills  of  the  range.  Eight  hundred 
thousand  dollars  would  build  it, u  provided  the  labor 
of  the  troops  was  utilized,"  and  leave  a  good  margin 


14  WAHHIOH  GAP. 

for  the  contractors  and  "  the  Bureau."  And  it  was 
to  escort  the  quartermaster  and  engineer  officer  and 
an  aide-de-camp  on  preliminary  survey  that  "  C  " 
Troop  of  the  cavalry,  Captain  Brooks  commanding, 
had  been  sent  on  the  march  from  the  North  Platte 
at  Frayne  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Powder  River 
in  the  Hills,  and  with  it  weni  its  new  first  lieuten 
ant,  Marshall  Dean. 


WARRIOR  &AP.  15 


CHAPTER  II. 

PROMOTION  was  rapid  in  the  cavalry  in  those  days, 
so  soon  after  the  war.  Indians  contributed  largely 
to  the  general  move,  but  there  were  other  causes, 
too.  Dean  had  served  little  over  a  year  as  second 
lieutenant  in  a  troop  doing  duty  along  the  lower 
Platte,  when  vacancies  occurring  gave  him  speedy 
and  unlooked-for  lift.  He  had  met  Mr.  Folsom 
only  once.  The  veteran  trader  had  embarked  much 
of  his  capital  in  business  at  Gate  City  beyond  the 
Rockies,  but  officers  from  Fort  Emory,  close  to  the 
new  frontier  town,  occasionally  told  him  he  had 
won  a  stanch  friend  in  that  solid  citizen. 

"  You  ought  to  get  transferred  to  Emory,"  they 
said.  "  Here's  the  band,  half  a  dozen  pretty  girls, 
hops  twice  a  week,  hunts  and  picnics  all  through 
the  spring  and  summer  in  the  mountains,  fishing  ad 
libitum,  and  lots  of  fun  all  the  year  around."  But 
Dean's  ears  were  oddly  deaf.  A  classmate  let  fall 
the  observation  that  it  was  because  of  a  New  York 
girl  who  had  jilted  him  that  Dean  had  forsworn 
society  and  stuck  to  a  troop  in  the  field ;  but  men 


who  knew  and  served  with  the  young  fellow  found 
him  an  enthusiast  in  his  profession,  passionately 
fond  of  cavalry  life  in  the  open,  a  bold  rider,  a  keen 
shot  and  a  born  hunter.  Up  with  the  dawn  day 
after  day,  in  saddle  long  hours,  scouting  the  divides 
and  ridges,  stalking  antelope  and  black-tail  deer, 
chasing  buffalo,  he  lived  a  life  that  hardened  every 
muscle,  bronzed  the  skin,  cleared  the  eye  and  brain, 
and  gave  to  even  monotonous  existence  a  "  verve  " 
and  zest  the  dawdlers  in  those  old-time  garrisons 
never  knew. 

All  the  long  summer  of  the  year  after  his  gradu 
ation,  from  mid-April  until  November,  he  never 
once  slept  beneath  a  wooden  roof,  and  more  often 
than  not  the  sky  was  his  only  canopy.  That 
summer,  too,  Jessie  spent  at  home,  Pappoose  with 
her  most  of  the  time,  and  one  year  more  would 
finish  them  ^t  the  reliable  old  Ohio  school.  By 
that  time  Folsom's  handsome  new  home  would  be 
in  readiness  to  receive  his  daughter  at  Gate  City. 
By  that  time,  too,  Marshall  might  hope  to  have  a 
leave  and  come  in  to  Illinois  to  welcome  his  sister 
and  gladden  his  mother's  eyes.  But  until  then,  the 
boy  had  said  to  himself,  he'd  stick  to  the  field,  and 
the  troop  that  had  the  roughest  work  to  do  was  the 
one  that  best  suited  him,  and  so  it  had  happened 
that  by  the  second  spring  of  his  service  in  the 


OAP.  n 

regiment  no  subaltern  was  held  in  higher  esteem 
by  senior  officers  or  regarded  with  more  envy  by 
the  lazy  ones  among  the  juniors  than  the  young 
graduate,  for  those,  too,  were  days  in  which  gradu 
ates  were  few  and  far  between,  except  in  higher 
grades.  Twice  had  he  ridden  in  the  dead  of  winter 
the  devious  trail  through  the  Medicine  Bow  range 
to  Frayne.  Once  already  had  he  been  sent  the 
long  march  to  and  from  the  Big  Horn,  and  when 
certain  officers  were  ordered  to  the  mountains  early 
in  the  spring  to  locate  the  site  of  the  new  post  at 
Warrior  Gap,  Brooks's  troop,  as  has  been  said,  went 
along  as  escort  and  Brooks  caught  mountain  fever 
in  the  Hills,  or  some  such  ailment,  and  made  the 
home  trip  in  the  ambulance,  leaving  the  active 
command  of  "  C  "  Troop  to  his  subaltern. 

With  the  selection  of  the  site  Dean  had  nothing 
to  do.  Silently  he  looked  on  as  the  quartermaster, 
the  engineer,  and  a  staff  officer  from  Omaha 
paced  off  certain  lines,  took  shots  with  their  instru 
ments  at  neighboring  heights, and  sampled  the  spark 
ling  waters  of  the  Fork.  Two  companies  of  infantry, 
sent  down  from  further  posts  along  the  northern 
slopes  of  the  range,  had  stacked  their  arms  and 
pitched  their  "  dog  tents,"  and  vigilant  vedettes  and 
sentries  peered  over  every  commanding  height  and 
ridge  to  secure  the  invaders  against  surprise.  In- 


18  WARRIOR  GAP. 

vaders  they  certainly  were  from  the  Indian  point 
of  view,  for  this  was  Indian  Story  Land,  the  most 
prized,  the  most  beautiful,  the  most  prolific  in  fish 
and  game  in  all  the  continent.  Never  had  the  red 
man  clung  with  such  tenacity  to  any  section  of  his 
hunting  grounds  as  did  the  Northern  Sioux  to  this, 
the  north  and  northeast  watershed  of  the  Big 
Horn  Range.  Old  Indian  fighters  among  the  men 
shook  their  heads  when  the  quartermaster  selected 
a  level  bench  as  the  site  on  which  to  begin  the 
stockade  that  was  to  enclose  the  officers'  quarters 
and  the  barracks,  storehouse  and  magazine,  and 
ominously  they  glanced  at  one  another  and  then  at 
the  pine-skirted  ridge  that  rose,  sharp  and  sudden, 
against  the  sky,  not  four  hundred  yards  away,  domi 
nating  the  site  entirely. 

"  I  shouldn't  like  the  job  of  clearing  away  the 
gang  of  Indians  that  might  seize  that  ridge,"  said 
Dean,  when  later  asked  by  the  engineer  what  he 
thought  of  it,  and  Dean  had  twice  by  that  time 
been  called  upon  to  help  "  hustle"  Indians  out 
of  threatening  positions,  and  knew  whereof  he 
spoke. 

<%  I  shouldn't  worry  over  things  you're  never 
likely  to  have  to  do,"  said  the  quartermaster,  with 
sarcastic  emphasis,  and  he  was  a  man  who  never  yet 
had  had  to  face  a  foeman  in  the  field,  and  Dean  said 


WAKRIOH  GAP.  10 

nothing  more,  but  felt  right  well  he  had  no  friend 
in  Major  Burleigh. 

They  left  the  infantry  there  to  guard  the  site  and 
protect  the  gang  of  woodchoppers  set  to  work  at 
once,  then  turned  their  faces  homeward.  They  had 
spent  four  days  and  nights  at  the  Gap,  and  the  more 
the  youngster  saw  of  the  rotund  quartermaster  the 
less  he  cared  to  cultivate  him.  A  portly,  heavily 
built  man  was  he,  some  forty  years  of  age,  a 
widower,  whose  children  were  at  their  mother's  old 
home  in  the  far  East,  a  business  man  with  a  keen 
eye  for  opportunities  and  investments,  a  fellow  who 
was  reputed  to  have  stock  in  a  dozen  mines  and 
kindred  enterprises,  a  knowing  hand  who  drove  fast 
horses  and  owned  quite  a  stable,  a  sharp  hand  who 
played  a  thriving  game  of  poker,  and  had  no  com 
punctions  as  to  winning.  Officers  at  Emory  were 
fighting  shy  of  him.  He  played  too  big  a  game  for 
their  small  pay  and  pockets,  and  the  men  with 
whom  he  took  his  pleasure  were  big  contractors  or 
well-known  "  sports"  and  gamblers,  who  in  those 
days  thronged  the  frontier  towns  and  most  men  did 
them  homage.  But  on  this  trip  Burleigh  had  no 
big  gamblers  along  and  missed  his  evening  game, 
and,  once  arrived  at  camp  along  the  Fork,  he  had 
"  roped  in"  some  of  the  infantry  officers,  but  Brooks 


$0  WAHRldn  GAP. 

and  the  engineer  declined  to  play,  and  so  had  Beat! 
from  the  very  start. 

"  All  true  cavalrymen  ought  to  be  able  to  take  a 
hand  at  poker,"  sneered  Burleigh,  at  the  first  night's 
camp,  for  here  was  a  pigeon  really  worth  the  pluck 
ing,  thought  he.  Dean's  life  in  the  field  had  been 
so  simple  and  inexpensive  that  he  had  saved  much 
of  his  slender  pay  ;  but,  what  Burleigh  did  not  know, 
he  had  sent  much  of  it  home  to  mother  and  Jess. 

"  I  know  several  men  who  would  have  been  the 
better  for  leaving  it  alone,"  responded  Dean  very 
quietly.  They  rubbed  each  other  the  wrong  way 
from  the  very  start,  and  this  was  bad  for  the  boy, 
for  in  those  days,  when  army  morals  were  less 
looked  after  than  they  are  now,  men  of  Burleigh's 
stamp,  with  the  means  to  entertain  and  the  station 
to  enable  them  to  do  it,  had  often  the  ear  of  officers 
from  headquarters,  and  more  things  were  told  at 
such  times  to  generals  and  colonels  about  their 
young  men  than  the  victims  ever  suspected. 
Burleigh  was  a  man  of  position  and  influence,  and 
knew  it.  Dean  was  a  youngster  without  either,  and 
did  not  realize  it.  He  had  made  an  enemy  of  the 
quartermaster  on  the  trip  and  could  not  but  know 
it.  Yet,  conscious  that  he  had  said  nothing  that 
was  wrong,  he  felt  no  disquiet. 

And  uow,  homeward  bound,  he  was  jogging  con- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  21 

tentedly  along  at  the  head  of  the  troop.  Scouts 
and  flankers  signaled  "all  clear."  Not  a  hostile 
Indian  had  they  seen  since  leaving  the  Gap.  The 
ambulances  with  a  little  squad  of  troopers  had  hung 
on  a  few  moments  at  the  noon  camp,  hitching  slowly 
and  leisurely  that  their  passengers  might  longer 
enjoy  their  post  prandial  siesta  in  the  last  shade 
they  would  see  until  they  reached  Cantonment 
Keno,  a  long  day's  ride  away.  Presently  the  lively 
niule  teams  would  come  along  the  winding  trail  at 
spanking  trot.  Then  the  troop  would  open  out  to 
right  and  left  and  let  them  take  the  lead,  giving  the 
dust  in  exchange,  and  once  more  the  rapid  march 
would  begin. 

It  was  four  p.  M.  when  the  shadows  of  the 
mules'  ears  and  heads  came  jerking  into  view 
beside  him,  and,  guiding  his  horse  to  the  right, 
Dean  loosed  rein  and  prepared  to  trot  by  the  open 
doorway  of  the  stout,  black-covered  wagon.  The 
young  engineer  officer,  sitting  on  the  front  seat, 
nodded  cordially  to  the  cavalryman.  He  had 
known  and  liked  him  at  the  Point.  He  had  sympa 
thized  with  him  in  the  vague  difference  with  the  quar 
termaster.  He  had  had  to  listen  to  sneering  things 
Burleigh  was  telling  the  aide-de-camp  about  young 
linesmen  in  general  and  Dean  in  particular,  stock 
ing  the  staff  officer  with  opinions  which  he  hoped 


22  WARRIOR  GAP. 

and  intended  should  reach  the  department  com- 
mander's  ears.  The  engineer  disbelieved,  but  was 
in  no  position  to  disprove.  His  station  was  at 
Omaha,  far  from  the  scene  of  cavalry  exploits  in 
fort  or  field.  Burleigh's  office  and  depot  were  in 
this  new,  crowded,  bustling  frontier  town,  filled  with 
temptation  to  men  so  far  removed  from  the  influ 
ences  of  home  and  civilization,  and  Burleigh  doubt 
less  saw  and  knew  much  to  warrant  his  generalities. 
But  he  knew  no  wrong  of  Dean,  for  that  young 
soldier,  as  has  been  said,  had  spent  all  but  a  few 
mid-winter  months  at  hard,  vigorous  work  in  the 
field,  had  been  to  Gate  City  and  Fort  Emory  only 
twice,  and  then  under  orders  that  called  for  prompt 
return  to  Frayne.  Any  man  with  an  eye  for 
human  nature  could  see  at  a  glance,  as  Dean  saw, 
that  both  the  aid  and  his  big  friend,  the  quarter 
master,  had  been  exchanging  comments  at  the  boy's 
expense.  He  had  shouted  a  cheery  salutation  to 
the  engineer  in  answer  to  his  friendly  nod,  then 
turned  in  saddle  and  looked  squarely  at  the  two  on 
the  back  seat,  and  the  constraint  in  their  manner, 
the  almost  sullen  look  in  their  faces,  told  the  story 
without  words. 

It  nettled  Dean — frank,  outspoken,  straightfor 
ward  as  he  had  always  been.  He  hated  any  species 
of  backbiting,  and  he  had  heard  of  Burleigh  as  an 


WARRIOR  GAP.  23 

adept  in  the  art,  and  a  man  to  be  feared.  Signaling 
to  his  sergeant  to  keep  the  column  opened  out,  as 
the  prairie  was  almost  level  now  on  every  side,  he 
rode  swiftly  on,  revolving  in  his  mind  how  to  meet 
and  checkmate  Burleigh's  insidious  moves,  for  ui- 
stinctively  he  felt  he  was  already  at  work.  The 
general  in  command  in  those  days  was  not  a  field 
soldier  by  any  means.  His  office  was  far  away  at 
the  banks  of  the  Missouri,  and  all  he  knew  of  what 
was  actually  going  on  in  his  department  he  derived 
from  official  written  reports  ;  much  that  was  neither 
official  nor  reliable  he  learned  from  officers  of  Bur 
leigh's  stamp,  and  Dean  had  never  yet  set  eyes  on 
him.  In  the  engineer  he  felt  he  had  a  friend  on 
whom  he  could  rely,  and  he  determined  to  seek  his 
counsel  at  the  campfire  that  very  night,  meantime 
to  hold  his  peace. 

They  were  trotting  through  a  shallow  depression 
at  the  moment,  the  two  spring-wagons  guarded  and 
escorted  by  some  thirty  dusty,  hardy-looking  troop 
ers.  In  the  second,  the  yellow  ambulance,  Brooks 
was  stretched  at  length,  taking  it  easy,  an  attend 
ant  jogging  alongside.  Behind  them  came  a  third, 
a  big  quartermaster's  wagon,  drawn  by  six  mules 
and  loaded  with  tentage  and  rations.  Out  some 
three  hundred  yards  to  the  right  and  left  rode  little 
squads  as  flankers.  Out  beyond  them,  further  still, 


24  WARRIOR  GAP. 

often  cut  off  from  view  by  low  waves  of  prairie, 
were  individual  troopers  riding  as  lookouts,  while 
far  to  the  front,  full  six  hundred  yards,  three  or 
four  others,  spreading  over  the  front  on  each  side 
of  the  twisting  trail,  moved  rapidly  from  crest  to 
crest,  always  carefully  scanning  the  country  ahead 
before  riding  up  to  the  summit.  And  now,  as 
Dean's  eyes  turned  from  his  charges  to  look  along 
the  sky  line  to  the  east,  he  saw  sudden  sign  of  ex 
citement  and  commotion  at  the  front.  A  sergeant, 
riding  with  two  troopers  midway  between  him  and 
those  foremost  scouts,  was  eagerly  signaling  to  him 
with  his  broad-brimmed  hat.  Three  of  the  black 
dots  along  the  gently  rising  slope  far  ahead  had 
leaped  from  their  mounts  and  were  slowly  crawling 
forward,  while  one  of  them,  his  horse  turned  adrift 
and  contentedly  nibbling  at  the  buffalo  grass,  was 
surely  signaling  that  there  was  mischief  ahead. 

In  an  instant  the  lieutenant  was  galloping  out  to 
the  front,  cautioning  the  driver  to  come  on  slowly. 
Presently  he  overhauled  the  sergeant  and  bade  him 
follow,  and  together  the  four  men  darted  on  up  the 
gradual  incline  until  within  ten  yards  of  where  the 
leaders'  horses  were  placidly  grazing.  There  they 
threw  themselves  from  saddle ;  one  of  the  men  took 
the  reins  of  the  four  horses  while  Dean  and  the 
other  two,  unslinging  carbine  and  crouching  low. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  25 

went  hurriedly  on  up  the  slope  until  they  came 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  nearest  scout. 

"  Indians  !"  he  called  to  them  as  soon  as  they 
were  within  earshot.  "  But  they  don't  seem  to  be 
on  lookout  for  us  at  all.  They're  fooling  with  some 
buffalo  over  here." 

Crawling  to  the  crest,  leaving  his  hat  behind, 
pean  peered  over  into  the  swale  beyond  and  this 
was  what  he  saw. 

Half  a  mile  away  to  the  east  the  low,  concave 
sweep  of  the  prairie  was  cut  by  the  jagged  banks 
and  curves  of  a  watercourse  which  drained  the 
melting  snows  in  earlier  spring.  Along  the  further 
bank  a  dozen  buffalo  were  placidly  grazing,  uncon 
scious  of  the  fact  that  in  the  shallow,  dry  ravine 
itself  half  a  dozen  young  Indians — Sioux,  appar 
ently — were  lurking,  awaiting  the  nearer  coming  of 
the  herd,  whose  leaders,  at  least,  were  gradually 
approaching  the  edge.  Away  down  to  the  north 
east,  toward  the  distant  Powder  Eiver,  the  shallow 
stream  bed  trended,  and,  following  the  pointing 
linger  of  the  scout  who  crawled  to  his  side,  Dean 
gazed  and  saw  a  confused  mass  of  slowly  moving 
objects,  betrayed  for  miles  by  the  light  cloud  of 
dust  that  hovered  over  them,  covering  many  an  acre 
of  the  prairie,  stretching  far  away  down  the  vale. 
Even  before  he  could  unsling  his  field  glass  and 


26  WARRIOR  GAP. 

gaze,  his  plainscraft  told  him  what  was  slowly, 
steadily  approaching,  as  though  to  cross  his  front — 
an  Indian  village,  a  big  one,  on  the  move  to  the 
mountains,  bound  perhaps  for  the  famous  race 
course  of  the  Sioux,  a  grand  amphitheater  in  the 
southern  hills. 

And  even  as  they  gazed,  two  tiny  jets  of  flame 
and  smoke  shot  from  the  ravine  edge  there  below 
them,  and  before  the  dull  reports  could  reach  their 
ears  the  foremost  bison  dropped  on  his  knees  and 
then  rolled  over  on  the  sod;  and  then  came  the 
order,  at  sound  of  which,  back  among  the  halted 
troopers,  every  carbine  leaped  from  its  socket. 


WARRIOR  GAP,  27 


CHAPTER   III. 

DOWN  along  the  building  railway  in  the  valley  or 
the  Platte  there  had  been  two  years  of  frequent 
encounter  with  small  bands  of  Indians.  Down 
along  the  Smoky  Hill,  in  Kansas,  the  Cheyennes 
were  ever  giving  trouble.  Even  around  Laramie 
and  Frayne,  on  the  North  Platte,  settlers  and 
soldiers  had  been  murdered,  as  well  as  one  or  two 
officers,  caught  alone  out  hunting,  and  the  Indians 
were,  of  course,  the  perpetrators.  Nevertheless,  it 
had  been  the  policy  of  the  leaders  of  the  Northern 
Sioux  to  avoid  any  meeting  in  force  and  to  deny 
the  complicity  of  their  people  in  the  crimes  com 
mitted.  Supply  trains  to  Eeno,  Kearney  and  C.  F. 
Smith,  the  Big  Horn  posts  of  the  Bozeman  Trail, 
went  to  and  fro  with  guards  of  only  moderate  size. 
Officers  had  taken  their  wives  and  children  to  these 
far-away  stations.  The  stockades  were  filled  with 
soldiers'  families.  Big  bands  of  Indians  roamed  the 
lovely  valleys  of  the  Piney,  the  Tongue,  and  Rose 
bud,  near  at  hand,  and  rode  into  full  view  of  the 
wary  sentries  at  the  stockades,  yet  made  no  hostile 


28  WARRIOR  GFAP. 

demonstration.  Officers  and  men  went  far  up  the 
rocky  canons  of  the  hills  in  search  of  fish  or  game, 
and  came  back  unmolested.  Escorts  reported  that 
they  sometimes  marched  all  day  long  side  by  side 
with  hunting  bands  of  Sioux,  a  mile  away ;  and 
often  little  parties,  squaws  and  boys  and  young 
men,  would  ride  confidently  over  and  beg  for  sugar, 
coffee,  hardtack — anything,  and  ride  off  with  their 
plunder  in  the  best  of  spirits  and  with  all  apparent 
good  feeling.  And  yet  the  great  war-chief  of  the 
Brules — Sintogaliska — Spotted  Tail,  the  white  man's 
friend,  gave  solemn  warning  not  to  trust  the  Ogal- 
lallas.  "Ked  Cloud's  heart  is  bad,"  he  said.  "He 
and  his  people  are  moving  from  the  reservations  to 
the  mountains.  They  mean  trouble."  Old  traders 
like  Folsom  heard  and  heeded,  and  Folsom  himself 
hastened  to  Fort  Frayne  the  very  week  that 
Burleigh  and  his  escort  left  for  Warrior  Gap.  Vis 
iting  at  the  ranch  of  his  son  in  a  beautiful  nook 
behind  the  Medicine  Bow  Mountains,  the  veteran 
trader  heard  tidings  from  an  Indian  brave  that 
filled  him  with  apprehension,  and  he  hurried  to  the 
fort. 

"  Is  it  true,"  he  asked,  "  that  the  government 
means  to  establish  a  post  at  Warrior  Gap  ?  Is  it 
true  that  Major  Burleigh  has  gone  thither  ?"  And 
when,  told  that  it  was  and  that  only  Captain. 


VTA  nUion  GAP.  %§ 

Brooks's  troop  had  gone  as  escort,  Folsom's  agitation 
was  extreme.  "  Colonel,"  said  he,  to  the  post  com 
mander,  "  solemnly  I  have  tried  to  warn  the  general 
of  the  danger  of  that  move.  I  have  told  him  that 
all  the  northern  tribes  are  leaguing  now,  that  they 
have  determined  to  keep  to  themselves  the  Big 
Horn  country  and  the  valleys  to  the  north.  It  will 
take  five  thousand  men  to  hold  those  three  posts 
against  the  Sioux,  and  you've  barely  got  five  hun 
dred.  I  warn  you  that  any  attempt  to  start  another 
post  up  there  will  bring  Red  Cloud  and  all  his 
people  to  the  spot.  Their  scouts  are  watching  like 
hawks  even  now.  Iron  Spear  came  to  me  at  my 
son's  ranch  last  night  and  told  me  not  ten  warriors 
were  left  at  the  reservation.  They  are  all  gone,  and 
the  war  dances  are  on  in  every  valley  from  the 
Black  Hills  to  the  Powder.  For  heaven's  sake  send 
half  your  garrison  up  to  Eeno  after  Brooks.  You 
are  safe  here.  They  won't  molest  you  south  of  the 
Platte,  at  least  not  now.  All  they  ask  is  that  you 
build  nc  more  forts  in  the  Big  Horn." 

But  the  colonel  could  not  act  without  authority. 
Telegraph  there  was  none  then.  What  Folsom 
said  was  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  his 
hurrying  off  a  courier  to  Laramie,  fully  one  hun 
dred  miles  southeast,  and  ordering  a  troop  to  scout 
across  the  wild  wastes  to  the  north,  while  Folsnm 


30  WARRIO&  GAP. 

himself,  unable  to  master  bis  anxiety,  decided  to 
accompany  tbe  command  sent  out  toward  Canton 
ment  Reno.  He  long  bad  bad  influence  witb  the 
Ogallallas.  Even  now  Red  Cloud  might  listen  if  he 
could  but  find  him.  The  matter  was  of  such 
urgency  be  could  not  refrain.  And  so  with  the 
gray  troop  of  the  cavalry,  setting  forth  within  an 
hour  of  his  coming,  rode  the  old  trader  whom  the 
Indians  bad  so  long  sworn  by,  and  he  started  none 
too  soon. 

Reno  was  some  ninety  miles  away,  and  not  until 
late  the  next  evening  did  the  grays  reach  the  lonely 
post.  Not  a  sign  of  hostile  Indian  bad  been  seen 
or  heard,  said  the  officer  in  command.  Small  bands 
of  hunters  were  out  toward  Pumpkin  Butte  two 
days  before. — Yes,  Ogallallas — and  a  scouting  party, 
working  dowTn  the  valley  of  the  Powder,  had  met  no 
band  at  all,  though  trails  were  numerous.  They 
were  now  patroling  toward  the  Big  Horn.  Perhaps 
there'd  be  a  courier  in  to-morrow.  Better  get  a 
good  night's  rest  meantime,  he  said.  But  all  the 
same  he  doubled  bis  guards  and  ordered  extra  vigi 
lance,  for  all  men  knew  John  Folsom,  and  when 
Folsom  was  anxious  on  the  Indian  question  it  wTas 
time  to  look  alive.  Daybreak  came  without  a  sign, 
but  Folsom  could  not  rest.  The  grays  had  no 
authority  to  go  beyond  Reno,  but  such  was  his 


WARRIOR  GAP.  31 

anxiety  that  it  was  decided  to  hold  the  troop  at  the 
cantonment  for  a  day  or  two.  Meantime,  despite 
his  years,  Folsom  decided  to  push  on  for  the  Gap. 
All  efforts  to  dissuade  him  were  in  vain.  With  him 
rode  Baptiste,  a  half-breed  Frenchman  whose 
mother  was  an  Ogallalla  squaw,  and  "Bat"  had 
served  him  many  a  year.  Their  canteens  were 
filled,  their  saddle-pouches  packed.  They  led  along 
an  extra  mule,  with  camp  equipage,  and  shook  hands 
gravely  with  the  officers  ere  they  rode  away,  "All 
depends,"  said  Folsom,  "  on  whether  Red  Cloud  is 
hereabouts  in  person.  If  he  is  and  I  can  get  his  ear 
I  can  probably  stave  off  trouble  long  enough  to  get 
those  people  at  the  Gap  back  to  Kearney,  or  over 
here.  They're  goners  if  they  attempt  to  stay  there 
and  build  that  post.  If  you  don't  have  word  from 
us  in  two  days,  send  for  all  the  troops  the  govern 
ment  can  raise.  It  will  take  every  mother's  son 
they've  got  to  whip  the  Sioux  when  once  they're 
leagued  together." 

"But  our  men  have  the  new  breech-loaders  now, 
Mr.  Folsom,"  said  the  officers.  The  Indians  have 
only  old  percussion-cap  rifles,  and  not  too  many  of 
them." 

"But  there  are  twenty  warriors  to  every  soldier," 
was  the  answer,  "  and  all  are  fighting  men." 

Tiaey  watched  the  pair  until  they  disappeared  far 


GAP. 


to  the  west.  All  day  long  the  lookouts  searched 
the  horizon.  All  that  night  the  sentries  listened  for 
hoofbeats  on  the  Bozeman  road,  but  only  the  weird 
chorus  of  the  coyotes  woke  the  echoes  of  the  dark 
prairie.  Dawn  of  the  second  day  came,  and,  unable 
to  bear  suspense,  the  major  sent  a  little  party, 
mounted  on  their  fleetest  horses,  to  scour  the  prai 
ries  at  least  halfway  to  the  foothills  of  the  Big  Horn, 
and  just  at  nightfall  they  came  back  —  three  at  least 
—galloping  like  mad,  their  mounts  a  mass  of  foam. 
Folsom's  dread  was  well  founded.  Eed  Cloud,  with 
heaven  only  knew  how  many  warriors,  had  camped 
on  Crazy  Woman's  Fork  within  the  past  three  days, 
and  gone  on  up  stream.  He  might  have  met  and 
fought  the  troops  sent  out  three  days  before.  He 
must  have  met  the  troops  dispatched  to  Warrior 
Gap. 

And  this  last,  at  least,  he  had  done.  For  a  few 
seconds  after  the  fall  of  the  buffalo  bull,  the  watch 
ers  on  the  distant  ridge  lay  still,  except  that  Dean, 
turning  slightly,  called  to  the  orderly  trumpeter, 
who  had  corne  trotting  out  after  the  troop  com 
mander,  and  was  now  halted  and  afoot  some  twenty 
yards  down  the  slope.  "  Go  back,  Bryan,"  he 
ordered.  "  Halt  the  ambulances.  Notify  Captain 
Brooks  that  there  are  lots  of  Indians  ahead,  and 
have  the  sergeant  deploy  the  men  at  once."  Then 


WAtiRTOlt  GAP.  33 

he  turned  back  and  with  his  field  glass  studied  the 
party  along  the  ravine. 

"  They  can't  have  seen  us,  can  they,  lieutenant?" 
muttered  the  trooper  nearest  him. 

But  Dean's  young  face  was  grave  and  clouded. 
Certainly  the  Indians  acted  as  though  they  were 
totally  unaware  of  the  presence  of  troops,  but  the 
more  he  thought  the  more  he  knew  that  no  big  bod}7" 
of  Sioux  would  be  traveling  across  country  at  so 
critical  a  time  (country,  too,  that  was  conquered  as 
this  was  from  their  enemies,  the  Crows),  without 
vigilant  scouts  afar  out  on  front  and  flank.  The 
more  he  thought  the  more  he  knew  that  even  as 
early  as  three  o'clock  those  keen-eyed  fellows  must 
have  sighted  his  little  column,  conspicuous  as  it  was 
because  of  its  wagons.  Beyond  question,  he  told 
himself,  the  chief  of  the  band  or  village  so  steadily 
approaching  from  the  northeast  had  full  informa 
tion  of  their  presence,  and  was  coming  confidently 
ahead.  What  had  he  to  fear?  Even  though  the 
blood  of  settlers  and  soldiers  might  still  be  red  upon 
the  hands  of  his  braves,  even  though  fresh  scalps 
might  be  dangling  at  this  moment  from  their  shields, 
what  mattered  it  ?  Did  he  not  know  that  the  safe 
guard  of  the  Indian  Bureau  spread  like  the  wing  of  a 
protecting  angel  over  him  and  his  people,  forbidding 
troops  to  molest  or  open  fire  unless  they  themselves 


34  WARRIOR  GAP. 

were  attacked  ?  Did  he  not  laugh  in  his  ragged 
shirt  sleeve  at  the  policy  of  the  white  fool  who 
would  permit  the  red  enemy  to  ride  boldly  up  to  his 
soldiers,  count  their  numbers,  inspect  their  array, 
satisfy  himself  as  to  their  armament  and  readiness, 
then  calculate  the  chances,  and,  if  he  thought  the 
force  too  strong,  ride  on  his  way  with  only  a  signifi 
cant  gesture  in  parting  insult  ?  If,  on  the  contrary, 
he  found  it  weak  then  he  could  turn  loose  his 
braves,  surround,  massacre  and  scalp,  and  swear  be 
fore  the  commissioners  sent  out  to  investigate  next 
moon  that  he  and  his  people  knew  nothing  about 
the  matter — nothing,  at  least,  that  they  could  be 
induced  to  tell. 

One  moment  more  Dean  watched  and  waited. 
Two  of  the  Indians  in  the  ravine  were  busily  re 
loading  their  rifles.  Two  others  were  aiming  over 
the  bank,  for,  with  the  strange  stupidity  of  their 
kind,  the  other  buffalo,  even  when  startled  by  the 
shot,  had  never  sought  safety  in  flight,  but  were 
now  sniffing  the  odor  of  blood  on  the  tainted  air, 
and  slowly,  wonderingly  drawing  near  the  stricken 
leader  as  though  to  ask  what  ailed  him.  Obedient 
and  docile,  the  Indian  ponies  stood  with  drooping 
heads,  hidden  under  the  shelter  of  the  steep  banks. 
Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  big  black  animals, 
bulky,  stupid,  fatuous ;  the  foremost  lowered  a  huge 


GAP.  35 

head  to  sniff  at  the  blood  oozing  from  the  shoulder 
of  the  dying  bull,  then  two  more  shots  puffed  out 
from  the  ravine,  the  huge  head  tossed  suddenhr  in 
air,  and  the  ungainly  brute  started  and  staggered, 
whirled  about  and  darted  a  few  yards  away,  then 
plunged  on  its  knees,  and  the  next  moment,  startled 
at  some  sight  the  soldier  watchers  could  not  see,  the 
black  band  was  seized  with  sudden  panic,  and 
darted  like  mad  into  the  depths  of  the  watercourse, 
disappeared  one  moment  from  sight,  then,  suddenly 
reappearing,  came  laboring  up  the  hither  side, 
straight  for  the  crest  on  which  they  lay,  a  dozen 
black,  bounding,  panting  beasts  thundering  over  the 
ground,  followed  by  half  a  dozen  darting  Indian 
ponies,  each  with  his  lithe  red  rider  scurrying  in 
pursuit. 

"Out  of  the  way,  men!  Don't  fire!"  shouted 
Dean.  And,  scrambling  back  toward  their  horses, 
the  lieutenant  and  his  men  drew  away  from  the 
front  of  the  charging  herd,  invisible  as  yet  to  the 
halted  troop  and  to  the  occupants  of  the  ambulance, 
whose  eager  heads  could  be  seen  poked  out  at  the 
side  doors  of  the  leading  vehicle,  as  the  "Hi  watch 
ing  for  the  cause  of  the  sudden  hh  ^. 

And  then  a  thing  happened  that  at  least  one  man 
saw  and  fortunately  remembered  later.  Bryan,  the 
trumpeter,  with  jabbing  heels  and  flapping  arms, 


36  WA&RIOil  GAP. 

was  tearing  back  toward  the  troop  at  the  moment 
at  the  top  speed  of  his  gray  charger,  already  so  near 
that  he  was  shouting  to  the  sergeant  in  the  lead. 
By  this  time,  too,  that  veteran  trooper,  with  the 
quick  sense  of  duty  that  seemed  to  inspire  the 
war-time  sergeant,  had  jumped  his  little  column 
"  front  into  line  "to  meet  the  unseen  danger;  so 
that  now,  with  carbines  advanced,  some  thirty  blue 
jackets  were  aligned  in  the  loose  fighting  order  of 
the  prairies  in  front  of  the  foremost  wagon.  The 
sight  of  the  distant  officer  and  men  tumbling 
hurriedly  back  and  to  one  side,  out  of  the  way  pre 
sumably  of  some  swiftly-coming  peril,  acted  like 
magic  on  the  line.  Carbines  were  quickly  brought 
to  ready,  the  gun  locks  crackling  in  chorus  as  the 
horses  pranced  and  snorted.  But  it  had  a  varying 
effect  on  the  occupants  of  the  leading  wagon.  The 
shout  of  u  Indians  "  from  Bryan's  lips,  the  sight  of 
scurry  on  the  ridge  ahead  brought  the  engineer  and 
aide-de-camp  springing  out,  rifle  in  hand,  to  take 
their  manly  part  in  the  coming  fray.  It  should 
have  brought  Major  Burleigh  too,  but  that  appro 
priately  named  non-combatant  never  showed  out 
side.  An  instant  more  and  to  the  sound  of  rising 
thunder,  before  the  astonished  eyes  of  the  cavalry 
line  there  burst  into  view,  full  tear  for  safety,  the 
uncouth,  yet  marveiously  swift-running  leaders  ol 


WARRIOR  GAP.  37 

the  little  herd.  The  whole  dozen  came  fi  Jng 
across  the  sky  line  and  down  the  gentle  slope,  head 
ing  well  around  to  the  left  of  the  line  of  troopers, 
while  sticking  to  their  flanks  like  red  nettles  half  a 
dozen  young  warriors  rode  like  the  wind  on  their 

«/  O 

nimble  ponies,  cracking  away  with  revolver  or  rifle 
in  savage  joy  in  the  glorious  sport.  Too  much  for 
Burleigh's  nerve  was  the  combination  of  sounds, 
thunder  of  hoofs  and  sputter  of  shots,  for  when  a 
cheer  of  sympathetic  delight  went  up  from  the 
soldier  line  at  sight  of  the  cnase,  and  the  young 
engineer  sprang  to  the  door  of  the  ambulance  to 
help  the  major  out,  he  found  him  a  limp  and  ghastly 
heap,  quivering  with  terror  in  the  bottom  of  the 
wagon,  looking  for  all  the  world  as  if  he  were  try 
ing  to  crawl  under  the  seat. 


38  WARRIOR  GAP. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

AWAY  to  the  left  of  the  little  command  tore  the 
quarry  and  the  chase.  Out  on  the  rolling  prairie,, 
barely  four  hundred  yards  from  where  the  ambu 
lance  and  rnules  were  backed  into  a  tangle  of  traces 
and  whiffletrees  and  fear-stricken  creatures,  another 
buffalo  had  dropped  in  a  heap ;  a  swarthy  rider  had 
tumbled  off  his  pony,  cut  a  slash  or  two  with  ever- 
ready  knife,  and  then,  throwing  a  bead  bedizened 
left  leg  over  his  eager  little  mount,  had  gone  lash 
ing  away  after  his  fellows,  not  without  a  jeering 
slap  at  the  halted  soldiery.  Then,  in  almost  less 
time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it,  the  pursued  and  pur 
suers  had  vanished  from  sight  over  a  low  ridge  a 
mile  to  the  north.  "  Only  a  hunting  party  !'*  said  one 
or  two  nervous  recruits,  with  a  gulp  of  relief.4  '  Only 
a  hunting  party,"  gasped  Burleigh,  as  presently  he 
heaved  himself  up  from  the  floor,  "  and  I  thought 
I'd  never  find  that  damned  gun  of  mine.  All  this 
fuss  for  nothing !"  he  continued,  his  lips  still  blue 
and  quivering.  "  That  green  youngster  up  there  in 
front  hasn't  learned  the  first  principles  of  plains* 


WARRIOR  GAP.  39 

craft  yet.  Here,  Brooks,"  he  added  loudly,  "  it's 
high  time  you  were  looking  after  this  sub  of 
yours,"  and  Brooks,  despite  his  illness,  was  indeed 
working  out  of  the  back  door  of  his  yellow  trundle 
bed  at  the  moment,  and  looking  anxiously  about. 
But  the  engineer  stood  pale  and  quiet,  coolly  study 
ing  the  flustered  growler,  and  when  Burleigh's 
shifting  eyes  sought  that  young  scientist's  face, 
what  he  read  there— and  Burleigh  was  no  fool — 
told  him  he  would  be  wise  to  change  the  tune.  The 
aid  had  pushed  out  in  front  of  the  troop  and  was 
signaling  to  Dean,  once  more  in  saddle  and  scan 
ning  through  his  glass  the  big  band  afar  down  the 
valley. 

"Take  my  horse,  sir,"  said  the  sergeant,  dis 
mounting1,  and  the  officer  thanked  him  and  rode 
swiftly  out  to  join  the  young1  commander  at  the 
front.  Together  they  gazed  and  consulted  and 
still  no  signal  came  to  resume  the  advance.  Then 
the  troopers  saw  the  staff  officer  make  a  broad 
Svveep  with  his  right  arm  to  the  south,  and  in  a 
moment  Dean's  hat  was  uplifted  and  waved  well  out 
in  that  direction.  "  Drop  carbine, "  growled  the  ser 
geant.  "  By  twos  again.  Incline  to  the  right. 
Damn  the  Sioux,  I  say  !  Have  we  got  to  circle  five 
miles  around  their  hunting  ground  for  fear  of  hurt 
ing  their  feelings.  Come  on,  Jimmy/'  he  added  to 


40  WARRfOR  GAP. 

the  driver  of  the  leading  wagon.  Jimmy  responded 
with  vigorous  language  at  the  expense  of  his  lead 
mules.  The  quartermaster  and  engineer  silently 
scrambled  in  ;  the  ambulance  started  with  a  jerk 
and  away  went  the  party  off  to  the  right  of  the 
trail,  the  wagons  jolting  a  bit  now  over  the  uneven 
clumps  of  bunch  grass. 

But  once  well  up  at  the  summit  of  the  low  divide 
the  command  reined  in  for  a  look  at  the  great 
Indian  cavalcade  swarming  in  the  northeastward 
valley,  and  covering  its  grassy  surface  still  a  good 
mile  away.  Out  from  among  the  dingy  mass  came 
galloping  half  a  dozen  young  braves,  followed  by 
as  many  squaws.  The  former  soon  spread  out  over 
the  billowy  surface,  some  following  the  direction  of 
the  chase,  some  bounding  on  south  west  ward  as 
though  confident  of  finding  what  they  sought  the 
moment  they  reached  the  nearest  ridge ;  some  rid 
ing  straight  to  the  point  where  lay  the  carcasses  of 
the  earliest  victims  of  the  hunt.  Here  in  full  view 
of  the  soldiery,  but  vouchsafing  them  no  glance  nor 
greeting  whatever,  two  young  warriors  reined  in 
their  lively  ponies  and  disdainfully  turned  their 
backs  upon  the  spectators  on  the  divide,  while  the 
squaws,  with  shrill  laugh  and  chatter,  rolled  from 
their  saddles  and  began  the  drudgery  of  their  lot — 


WARRIOR  GAP.  41 

skinning  and  cutting  up  the  buffalos  slaughtered  by 
their  lords. 

"Don't  you  see,"  sneered  Burleigb,  "  it's  nothing 
but  a  village  out  for  a  hunt — nothing  in  God's  world 
to  get  stampeded  about.  We've  had  all  this  show 
of  \varlikepreparation  for  nothing."  But  he  turned 
away  again  as  he  caught  the  steady  look  in  the 
engineer's  blue  eyes,  and  shouted  to  his  more  ap 
preciative  friend,  the  aide-de-camp  :  "  Well,  pardner, 
haven't  we  fooled  away  enough  time  here,  or  have 
we  got  to  wait  the  pleasure  of  people  that  never 
saw  Indians  before  ?" 

Dean  flushed  crimson  at  the  taunt.  He  well 
knew  for  whom  it  was  meant.  He  was  indignant 
enough  by  this  time  to  speak  for  himself,  but  the 
aide-de-camp  saved  him  the  trouble. 

"  I  requested  Mr,  Dean  to  halt  a  few  moments, 
Burleigho  It  is  necessary  I  should  know  what  band 
this  is,  and  how  many  are  out." 

"  Well,  be  quick  about  it,"  snapped  the  quarter 
master,  "I  want  to  get  to  Reno  before  midnight, 
and  at  this  rate  we  won't  make  it  in  a  week." 

A  sergeant  who  could  speak  a  little  Sioux  came 
riding  back  to  the  camp,  a  grin  on  his  sun-blistered 
face.  "  Well,  sergeant,  what'd  he  say  ?"  asked  the 
staff  officer. 


42  WARRIOR  GAP. 

"  He  said  would  I  plaze  to  go  to  hell,  sorr,"  was 
the  prompt  response. 

"  Won't  he  tell  who  they  are  ?" 

"  He  won't,  sorr.  He  says  we  know  widout 
askin',  which  is  thrue,  sorr.  They're  Ogallallas  to 
a  man,  barrin'  the  squaws  and  pappooses,  wid  ould 
Eed  Cloud  'himself." 

"  How'd  you  find  out  if  they  wouldn't  talk  ?" 
asked  the  staff  officer  impatiently. 

"  'Twas  the  bucks  wouldn't  talk — except  in  swear 
wurruds.  I  wasted  no  time  on  them,  sorr.  I  gave 
the  first  squaw  the  last  hard-tack  in  me  saddle-bags 
and  tould  her  was  it  Machpealota,  and  she  said  it 
was,  and  he  \vas  wid  Box  Karesha — that's  ould 
Folsom — not  six  hour  ago,  an'  Folsom's  gone  back 
to  the  cantonment." 

"Then  the  quicker  we  skip  the  better,"  were  the 
aide-de-camp's  words.  "  Get  us  to  Keno  fast  as  you 
can,  Dean.  Strike  for  the  road  again  as  soon  as 
we're  well  beyond  their  buffalo.  Now  for  it! 
There's  something  behind  all  this  bogus  hunt  busi 
ness,  and  Folsom  knows  what  it  is." 

And  every  mile  of  the  way,  until  thick  darkness 
settled  down  over  the  prairie,  there  was  something 
behind  the  trooper  cavalcade — several  somethings— 
wary  red  men,  young  and  wiry,  who  never  let  them- 
s^lves  be  seen,  yet  followed  on  over  wave  after 


WARRIOR  GAP.  43 

wave  of  prairie  to  look  to  it  that  no  man  went  back 
from  that  column  to  carry  the  news  of  their  pres 
ence  to  the  little  battalion  left  in  charge  of  the  new 
post  at  Warrior  Gap. 

It  was  the  dark  of  the  moon,  or,  as  the  Indians 
say,  "  the  nights  the  moon  is  sleeping  in  his  lodge," 
and  by  ten  p.  M.  the  skies  were  overcast.  Only  here 
and  there  a  twinkling  star  was  visible,  and  only 
where  some  trooper  struck  a  light  for  his  pipe  could 
a  hand  be  seen  in  front  of  the  face.  The  ambulance 
mules  that  had  kept  their  steady  jog  during  the  late 
afternoon  and  the  long  gloaming  that  followed  still 
seemed  able  to  maintain  the  gait,  and  even  the  big, 
lumbering  wagon  at  the  rear  came  briskly  on  under 
the  tug  of  its  triple  span,  but  in  the  intense  dark 
ness  the  guides  at  the  head  of  the  column  kept  los 
ing  the  road,  and  the  bumping  of  the  wagons  would 
reveal  the  fact,  and  a  halt  would  be  ordered,  men 
would  dismount  and  go  bending  and  crouching  and 
feeling  their  way  over  the  almost  barren  surface, 
hunting  among  the  sage  brush  for  the  double  fur 
row  of  the  trail.  Matches  innumerable  were  con 
sumed,  and  minutes  of  valuable  time,  and  the  quar 
termaster  waxed  fretful  and  impatient,  and  swore 
that  his  mules  could  find  their  way  where  the  troop 
ers  couldn't,  and  finally,  after  the  trail  had  been  lost 
and  found  half  a  dozen  times,  old  Brooks  was  badg- 


44  WARRIOR  GAP. 

ered  into  telling  Dean  to  let  the  ambulance  take 
the  lead.  The  driver  shirked  at  once. 

"  There's  no  tellin'  where  we'll  fetch  up,"  said  he. 
"Those  mules  can't  see  the  trail  if  a  man  can't. 
Take  their  harness  off  and  turn  'em  loose,  an'  I  sup 
pose  they  can  find  their  way  to  the  post,  but  sure  as 
you  turn  them  loose  when  they've  got  somethin'  on 
'em,  or  behind  'em,  an/1  the  doggone  cussedness  of 
the  creatures  will  prompt  them  to  smash  tilings." 

But  the  quartermaster  said  he'd  tried  it  with 
those  very  mules,  between  Emory  and  Medicine 
Bow  a  dozen  times,  and  he'd  risk  it.  The  driver 
could  get  off  his  seat  if  he  wanted  to,  and  run 
alongside,  but  he'd  stay  where  he  was. 

"Let  me  out,  please,"  said  the  engineer,  and 
jumped  to  the  ground,  and  then  the  cavalcade 
pushed  on  again.  The  driver,  as  ordered  by  an 
employer  whom  he  dare  not  disobey,  let  the  reins 
drop  on  the  mules'  backs,  the  troopers  falling  be 
hind,  the  yellow  ambulance  and  the  big  baggage 
wagon  bringing  up  the  rear. 

Then,  with  a  horseman  on  each  side,  the  mules 
were  persuaded  to  push  on  again,  and  then  when 
fairly  started  Burleigh  called  to  the  troopers  to  fall 
back,  so  that  the  mules  should  not,  as  he  expressed 
it,  "  be  influenced."  "  Leave  them  to  themselves 
and  they  can  get  along, all  right," said  he,  "  but 


WARRIOR  GAP.  45 

them  up  with  the  horses,  and  they  want  them  to 
take  all  the  responsibility." 

And  now  the  command  was  barely  crawling. 
Brooks,  heavy,  languid  with  splitting  headache,  lay 
in  feverish  torpor  in  his  ambulance,  asking  only  to 
be  let  alone.  The  engineer,  a  subaltern  as  yet,  felt 
that  he  had  no  right  attempting  to  advise  men  like 
Burleigh,  who  proclaimed  himself  an  old  cam 
paigner.  The  aide-de-camp  was  getting  both  sleepy 
and  impatient,  but  he,  too,  was  much  the  quarter 
master's  junior  in  rank.  As  for  Dean,  he  had  no 
volition  whatever.  "  Escort  the  party,"  were  his 
orders,  and  that  meant  that  he  must  govern  the 
movements  of  his  horses  and  men  by  the  wishes  of 
the  senior  staff  official.  And  so  they  jogged  along 
perhaps  twenty  minutes  more,  and  then  there  was  a 
sudden  splutter  and  plunge  and  stumble  ahead,  a 
sharp  pull  on  the  traces,  a  marvelously  quick  jerk 
back  on  the  reins  that  threw  the  wheel  team  on 
their  haunches,  and  thereby  saved  the  "  outfit,"  for 
when  men  and  matches  were  hurried  to  the  front 
the  lead  mules  were  discovered  kicking  and  splash 
ing  in  a  mud  hole.  They  were  not  only  off  the 
road  by  a  dozen  yards,  but  over  a  bank  two  feet 
high. 

And  this  last  pound  broke  the  back  of  Burleigh's 
obstinacy.  It  was  nearly  midnight  anyway.  The 


46  WA&WO&  GAP. 

best  thing  to  be  done  was  unhitch,  unsaddle  and 
bivouac  until  the  gray  light  of  dawn  came  peering 
over  the  eastward  prairie,  which  in  that  high 
latitude  and  "  long-day"  month  would  be  soon  after 
three.  Then  they  could  push  on  to  Reno. 

Not  until  nearly  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
therefore,  did  they  heave  in  sight  of  the  low  belt  of 
dingy  green  that  told  of  the  presence  of  a  stream 
still  long  miles  away ;  and  here,  knowing  himself  to 
be  out  of  danger,  the  major  bade  the  weary  escort 
march  in  at  a  walk  while  he  hurried  on.  In  fifteen 
minutes  the  black-hooded  wagon  was  twisting  and 
turning  over  the  powdery  road  a  good  mile  ahead, 
its  dust  rising  high  over  the  sage-covered  desert, 
while  the  other  two,  with  the  dust-begrimed  troop 
ers,  jogged  sturdily  on.  Loring,  the  young  engineer, 
had  waved  a  cordial  good-by  to  his  old  cadet  ac 
quaintance.  "  See  you  later,  old  man,"  he  cried. 
Stone,  the  aide-de-camp,  nodded  and  said,  "  Take 
care  of  yourself,"  and  Burleigh  said  nothing  at  all. 
He  was  wondering  what  he  could  do  to  muzzle 
Loring  in  case  that  gifted  young  graduate  were 
moved  to  tell  what  the  quartermaster  actually  did 
when  he  heard  the  rush  and  firing  out  at  the  front 
on  the  road  from  Warrior  Gap. 

But  when  at  last  the  black  wagon  bowled  in  at 
the  stockaded  quadrangle  and  discharged  its  occu- 


GAP.  4? 

pants  at  the  hut  of  the  major  commanding,  there 
were  tidings  of  such  import  to  greet  them  that 
Burleigh  turned  yellow-white  again  at  thought  of 
the  perils  they  had  escaped. 

"  My  God,  man !"  cried  the  post  commander,  as 
he  came  hurrying  out  to  meet  the  party,  "  we've 
been  in  a  blue  funk  about  you  fellov/s  for  two 
whole  days.  Did  you  see  any  Indians  ?" 

"  See  any  Indians !"  said  Burleigh,  rallying  to  the 
occasion  as  became  a  man  who  knew  how  to  grasp 
an  opportunity.  "  We  stood  off  the  whole  Sioux 
nation  over  toward  Crazy  'Woman's  Fork.  There 
were  enough  to  cover  the  country,  red  and  black, 
for  a  dozen  miles.  "We  sighted  them  yesterday 
about  four  o'clock  and  there  were  enough  around  us 
to  eat  us  alive,  but  we  just  threw  out  skirmish  lines 
and  marched  steadily  ahead,  so  they  thought  best 
not  to  bother  us.  They're  shy  of  our  breech  load 
ers,  damn  'em !  That's  all  that  kept  them  at 
respectful  distance." 

The  major's  face  as  he  listened  took  on  a  puzzled, 
perturbed  look.  He  did  not  wish  to  say  anything 
that  might  reflect  on  the  opinions  of  so  influential  a 
man  as  the  depot  quartermaster  at  Gate  City,  but 
it  was  plain  that  there  was  a  train  of  thought 
rumbling  through  his  mind  that  would  collide  with 
Burleigh's  column  of  events  unless  he  were  spared 


48 

the  need  of  answering  questions.  "  Let  me  tell  you 
briefly  what's  happened,"  he  said.  "  Red  Cloud 
and  his  whole  band  are  out  on  the  warpath.  They 
killed  two  couriers,  half-breeds,  I  sent  out  to  find 
Thornton's  troop  that  was  scouting  the  Dry  Fork. 
The  man  we  sent  to  find  you  and  give  you  warning 
hasn't  got  back  at  all.  We've  had  double  sentries 
for  three  days  and  nights.  The  only  souls  to  get 
in  from  the  northwest  since  our  fellows  were  run 
back  last  night  are  old  Folsom  and  Baptiste.  Folsom 
had  a  talk  with  Red  Cloud,  and  tried  to  induce  him 
to  turn  back.  He's  beset  with  the  idea  that  the  old 
villain  is  plotting  a  general  massacre  along  the  Big 
Horn.  He  looks  like  a  ghost.  He  says  if  we  had 
five  thousand  soldiers  up  there  there'd  hardly  be 
enough.  You  know  the  Sioux  have  sworn  by  him 
for  years,  and  he  thought  he  could  coax  Red  Cloud 
to  keep  away,  but  all  the  old  villain  would  promise 
was  to  hold  his  young  men  back  ten  days  or  so 
until  Folsom  could  get  the  general  to  order  the 
Warrior  Gap  plan  abandoned.  If  the  troops  are 
there  Folsom  says  it's  all  up  with  them.  Red 
Cloud  can  rally  all  the  Northern  tribes,  and  it's 
only  because  of  Folsom's  influence,  at  least  I  fancy 
so — that — that  they  didn't  attack  you." 

"  Where   is   Folsom  ? '   growled    Burleigh,  as  he 
shook  the  powdery  cloud  from  his  linen  duster  and 


WARRIOR  GAP.  49 

followed  the  major  within  his  darkened  door,  while 
other  officers  hospitably  led  the  aid  and  engineer 
into  the  adjoining  hut. 

"Gone  right  on  to  Frayne.  The  old  fellow 
will  wear  himself  out,  I'm  afraid.  He  says  he  must 
get  in  telegraphic  communication  with  Omaha  be 
fore  he's  four  days  older.  My  heaven,  man,  it  was 
a  narrow  squeak  you  had !  It's  God's  mercy  Folsom 
saw  Red  Cloud  before  he  saw  you." 

"Oh,  pshaw!"  said  the  quartermaster,  turning 
over  a  little  packet  of  letters  awaiting  him  in  the 
commanding  officer's  sanctum.  "  We  could  have 
given  a  good  account  of  ourselves,  I  reckon.  Brooks 
is  down  with  fever,  and  young  Dean  got  rattled,  or 
something  like  it.  He's  new  at  the  business  and 
easily  scared,  you  know;  so  I  practically  had  to 
take  command.  They'll  be  along  in  an  hour  or  so, 
and — a  word  in  your  ear.  If  Brooks  has  to  remain 
on  sick  report  you'd  better  put  somebody  in  com 
mand  of  that  troop  that's  had — er — er — experience." 

The  post  commander  looked  genuinely  troubled. 
"  Why,  Burleigh,  we've  all  taken  quite  a  shine  to 
Dean.  I  know  the  officers  in  his  regiment  think  a 
heap  of  him ;  the  seniors  do,  at  least." 

But  Burleigh,  with  big  eyes,  was  glaring  at  a 
letter  he  had  selected,  opened,  and  was  hurriedly 


50  WARRIOR  GAP. 

reading.  His  face  was  yellowing  again,  under  the 
blister  of  sun  and  alkali. 

"  What's  amiss  ?"  queried  his  friend.  "  Nothing 
wrong,  I  hope.  Why,  Burleigh,  man !  Here,  let 
me  help  you !"  he  cried  in  alarm,  for  the  quarter 
master  was  sinking  into  a  chair. 

"You  can  help  me!"  he  gasped.  "Get  me  fresh 
mules  and  escort.  My  God !  I  must  start  for 
Frayne  at  once.  Some  whisky,  please."  And  the 
letter  dropped  from  his  trembling  hands  and  Jay 
there  unnoticed  on  fhe  floor. 


WARRIOR  GAP. 


CHAPTEK  Y. 

Mm  June  had  come,  and  there  was  the  very  devil 
to  pay — so  said  the  scouts  and  soldiers  up  along  the 
Big  Horn.  But  scouts  and  soldiers  were  far  re 
moved  from  the  States  and  cities  where  news  was 
manufactured,  and  those  were  days  in  which  our 
Indian  outbreaks  were  described  in  the  press  long 
after,  instead  of  before,  their  occurrence.  Snch 
couriers  as  had  got  through  to  Frayne  brought 
dispatches  from  the  far-isolated  posts  along  that 
beautiful  range,  insisting  that  the  Sioux  were 
swarming  in  every  valley.  Such  dispatches,  when 
wired  to  Washington  and  "  referred "  to  the  De 
partment  of  the  Interior  and  re-referred  to  the  head 
of  the  Indian  Bureau,  were  scoffed  at  as  sensational. 

"  Our  agents  report  the  Indians  peaceably  assem 
bled  at  their  reservations.  None  are  missing  ut  the 
weekly  distribution  of  supplies  except  those  who 
are  properly  accounted  for  as  out  on  their  annual 
hunt."  "  The  officers,"  said  the  papers,  "seem  to 
see  red  Indians  in  every  bush,"  and  unpleasant 
things  were  hinted  at  the  officers  as  a  consequence. 


52  WARRIOR  GAP. 

Indians  there  certainly  were  in  other  sections,  and 
they  were  unquestionably  "  raising  the  devil "  along 
the  Smoky  Hill  and  the  Southern  Plains,  and  there 
the  Interior  Department  insisted  that  troops  in  strong 
force  should  be  sent.  So,  too,  along  the  line  of  the 
Union  Pacific.  Officials  were  still  nervous.  Troops 
of  cavalry  camped  at  intervals  of  forty  miles  along 
the  line  between  Kearney  and  Julesburg,  and  even 
beyond.  At  Washington  and  the  great  cities  of  the 
East,  therefore,  there  was  no  anxiety  as  to  the  pos 
sible  fate  of  those  little  garrisons,  with  their  help 
less  charge  of  women  and  children  away  up  in  the 
heart  of  the  Sioux  country.  But  at  Laramie  and 
Frayne  and  Emory,  the  nearest  frontier  posts; 
at  Cheyenne,  Omaha  and  Gate  City  the  anxiety  was 
great.  When  John  Folsom  said  the  Indians  meant 
a  war  of  extermination  people  west  of  the  Missouri 
said :  "  Withdraw  those  garrisons  while  there  is  yet 
time  or  else  send  five  thousand  troops  to  help  them." 
But  people  east  of  the  Missouri  said :  "  Who  the 
devil  is  John  Folsom  ?  W  hat  does  he  know  about 
it  ?  Here's  what  the  Indian  agents  say,  and  that's 
enough,"  and  people  east  of  the  Missouri  being 
vastly  in  the  majority,  neither  were  the  garrisons 
relieved  nor  the  reinforcements  sent.  What  was 
worse,  John  Folsom's  urgent  advice  that  they  dis 
continue  at  once  all  work  at  Warrior  Gap  and  send 


WARRIOR  GAP.  53 

the  troops  and  laborers  back  to  Reno  was  pooh' 
poohed. 

"  The  contracts  have  been  let  and  signed.  The 
material  is  all  on  its  way.  We  can't  back  out  now," 
said  the  officials.  "Send  runners  to  Red  Cloud  and 
get  him  in  for  a  talk.  Promise  him  lots  of  presents. 
Yes,  if  he  must  have  them,  tell  him  he  shall  have 
breech-loaders  and  copper  cartridges,  like  the  sol 
diers — to  shoot  buffalo  with,  of  course.  Promise 
him  pretty  much  anything  to  be  good  and  keep  his 
hands  off  a  little  longer  till  we  get  that  fort  and  the 
new  agency  buildings  finished,  and  then  let  him  do 
what  he  likes." 

Such  were  the  instructions  given  the  commission 
ers  and  interpreters  hurried  through  Gate  City  and 
Frayne,  and  on  up  to  Reno  just  within  the  limit 
fixed  by  Folsom.  Red  Cloud  and  his  chiefs  came  in 
accordingly,  arrayed  in  pomp,  paint  and  finery ; 
shook  hands  grimly  with  the  representatives  of  the 
Great  Father,  critically  scanned  the  proffered  gifts, 
disdainfully  rejected  the  muzzle-loading  rifles  and 
old  dragoon  horse-pistols  heaped  before  him.  "  Got 
heap  better,"  was  his  comment,  and  nothing  but 
brand  new  breech-loaders  would  serve  his  purpose. 
Promise  them  and  he'd  see  what  could  be  done  to 
restrain  his  young  men.  But  they  were  "  pretty 
mad,"  he  said,  and  couldn't  be  relied  upon  to  keep  the 


54  WARRIOR  GAP. 

peace  unless  sure  of  getting  better  arms  and  ammu 
nition  to  help  them  break  it  next  time.  It  was  only 
temporizing.  In  was  only  encouraging  the  veteran 
war-chief  in  his  visions  of  power  and  control.  The 
commissioners  came  back  beaming,  "  Everything 
satisfactorily  arranged.  Red  Cloud  and  his  people 
are  only  out  for  a  big  hunt."  But  officers  whose 
wives  and  children  prayed  fearfully  at  night  within 
the  puny  wooden  stockades,  and  listened  trembling 
to  the  howls  and  tom-toms  of  the  (lancing  Indians 
around  the  council  fires  in  the  neighboring  valleys, 
wished  to  heaven  they  had  left  those  dear  ones  in 
safety  at  their  Eastern  homes — wished  to  heaven 
they  could  send  them  thither  now,  but  well  knew 
that  it  was  too  late.  Only  as  single  spies,  riding  by 
night,  hiding  by  day,  were  couriers  able  to  get 
through  from  the  Big  Horn  to  the  Platte.  Of 
scouts  and  soldiers  sent  at  different  times  since  the 
middle  of  May,  seven  were  missing,  and  never, 
except  through  vague  boastings  of  the  Indians,  were 
heard  of  again. 

"  It  is  a  treacherous  truce,  I  tell  you,"  said 
Folsom,  with  grave,  anxious  face,  to  the  colonel 
commanding  Fort  Emory.  "  I  have  known  Red 
Cloud  twenty  years.  He's  only  waiting  a  few 
weeks  to  see  if  the  government  will  be  fool  enough 
to  send  them  breech-loaders,  If  it  does,  he'll  be  all 


WARRIOR  GAP.  55 

the  better  able  to  fight  a  little  later  on.  If  it 
doesn't  he  will  make  it  his  casus  belli" 

And  the  veteran  colonel  listened,  looked  grave, 
and  said  he  had  done  his  utmost  to  convince  his 
superiors.  He  could  do  no  more. 

It  was  nearly  three  hundred  miles  by  the  wind 
ing  mountain  road  from  Gate  City  to  Warrior  Gap. 
Over  hill  and  dale  and  mountain  pass  the  road  ran 
to  Frayne,  thence,  fording  the  North  Platte,  the 
wagon  trains,  heavily  guarded,  had  to  drag  over 
miles  of  dreary  desert,  oyer  shadeless  slopes  and 
divides  to  the  dry  wash  of  the  Powder,  and  by 
roads  deep  in  alkali  dust  and  sage  brush  to  Canton 
ment  Reno,  where  far  to  the  west  the  grand  range 
loomed  up  against  the  sky — another  long  day's  march 
away  to  the  nearest  foothills,  to  the  nearest  drink 
able  water,  and  then,  forty  miles  further  still,  in  the 
heart  of  the  grand  pine-covered  heights,  was  the 
rock-bound  gateway  to  a  lovely  park  region  within, 
called  by  the  Sioux  some  wild  combination  of  almost 
unpronounceable  syllables,  which,  freely  translated, 
gave  us  Warrior  Gap,  and  there  at  last  accounts, 
strengthened  by  detachments  from  Frayne  and 
Eeno,  the  little  command  of  fort  builders  worked 
away,  ax  in  hand,  rifle  at  hand,  subjected  every 
hour  to  alarm  from  the  vedettes  and  pickets  posted 
thickly  all  about  them,  pickets  who  were  sometimes 


56  WARRIOR  GAP. 

found  stone  dead  at  their  posts,  transfixed  with 
arrows,  scalped  and  mutilated,  and  yet  not  once  had 
Indians  in  any  force  been  seen  by  officers  or  man 
about  the  spot  since  the  day  Ked  Cloud's  whole 
array  passed  Brooks's  troop  on  the  Reno  trail, 
peaceably  hunting  buffalo.  "An'  divil  a  so\vl  in 
in  the  outfit,"  said  old  Sergeant  Shaughnessy,  "that 
hadn't  his  tongue  in  his  cheek." 

For  three  months  that  hard-worked  troop  had  been 
afield,  and  the  time  had  passed  and  gone  when  its 
young  first  lieutenant  had  hoped  for  a  leave  to  go 
home  and  see  the  mother  and  Jess.  His  captain 
was  still  ailing  and  unfit  for  duty  in  saddle.  He 
could  not  and  would  not  ask  for  leave  at  such  a 
time,  and  yet  at  the  very  moment  when  he  was 
most  earnestly  and  faithfully  doing  his  whole  duty 
at  the  front,  slander  was  busy  with  his  name  long 
miles  at  the  rear. 

Something  was  amiss  with  Burleigh,  said  his 
cronies  at  Gate  City.  He  had  come  hurrying  back 
from  the  hills,  had  spent  a  day  in  his  office  and  not 
a  cent  at  the  club,  had  taken  the  night  express  un 
beknown  to  anybody  but  his  chief  clerk,  and  gone 
hurrying  eastward.  It  was  a  time  when  his  serv 
ices  were  needed  at  the  depot,  too.  Supplies, 
stores,  all  manner  of  material  were  being  freighted 
from  Gate  City  over  the  range  to  the  Platte  and 


WARRIOR  GAP.  57 

beyond,  yet  he  had  wired  for  authority  to  hasten  to 
Chicago  on  urgent  personal  affairs,  got  it  and  dis 
appeared.  A  young  regimental  quartermaster  was 
ordered  in  from  Emory  to  take  charge  of  shipments 
and  sign  invoices  during  Burleigh's  temporary  ab 
sence,  and  the  only  other  officer  whom  Burleigh 
had  seen  and  talked  with  before  his  start  was  the 
venerable  post  commander.  One  after  another  the 
few  cavalry  troops  (companies)  on  duty  at  Emory 
had  been  sent  afield  until  now  only  one  was  left, 
and  three  days  after  Burleigh  started  there  came  a 
dispatch  from  department  headquarters  directing 
the  sending  of  that  one  to  Frayne  at  once.  Cap 
tain  Brooks's  troop,  owing  to  the  continued  illness 
of  its  commander,  would  be  temporarily  withdrawn 
and  sent  back  to  Emory  to  replace  it. 

Marshall  Dean  did  not  know  whether  to  be  glad 
or  sorry.  Soldier  from  top  to  toe,  he  was  keenly 
enjoying  the  command  of  his  troop.  He  gloried  in 
mountain  scouting,  and  was  in  his  element  when 
astride  a  spirited  horse.  Then,  too,  the  air  was 
throbbing  with  rumors  of  Indian  depredations 
along  the  northward  trails,  and  everything  pointed 
to  serious  outbreak  any  moment,  and  when  it  came 
he  longed  to  be  on  hand  to  take  his  share  and  win 
his  name,  for  with  such  a  troop  his  chances  were 
better  for  honors  and  distinctions  than  those  of  any 


58  WARRIOR  GAP. 

youngster  he  knew.  Therefore  he  longed  to  keep 
afield.  On  the  other  hand  the  visit  paid  by  Jessie's 
school  friend,  little  "  Pappoose  "  Folsom,  was  to  be 
returned  in  kind.  John  Folsom  had  begged  and 
their  mother  had  consented  that  after  a  week  at 
home  Jess  should  accompany  her  beloved  friend  on 
a  visit  to  her  far  western  home.  They  would  be 
escorted  as  far  as  Omaha,  and  there  Folsom  himself 
would  meet  them.  His  handsome  house  was  ready, 
and,  so  said  friends  who  had  been  invited  to  the 
housewarming,  particularly  well  stocked  as  to  larder 
and  cellar.  There  was  just  one  thing  on  which 
Gate  City  gossips  were  enabled  to  dilate  that  was 
not  entirely  satisfactory  to  Folsom's  friends,  and 
that  was  the  new  presiding  goddess  of  the  establish 
ment. 

"  What  on  earth  does  John  Folsom  want  of  a 
housekeeper?"  asked  the  helpmates  of  his  friends 
at  Fort  Emory,  and  in  the  bustling,  busy  town. 
"  Why  don't  he  marry  again  ?"  queried  those  who 
would  gladly  have  seen  some  unprovided  sister, 
niece  or  daughter  thus  cozily  disposed  of.  It  was 
years  since  Elinor's  mother's  death,  and  yet  John 
Folsom  seemed  to  mourn  her  as  fondly  as  ever,  and 
except  in  midwinter,  barely  a  month  went  by  in 
which  he  did  not  make  his  pilgrimage  to  her  never- 
neglected  grave.  Yet,  despite  his  vigorous  years 


WARRIOR  GAP.  59 

in  saddle,  sunshine  or  storm,  and  his  thorough  love 
for  outdoor  life,  Folsora,  now  well  over   fifty,  could 
no  longer  so  lightly  bear  the  hard  life  of  the  field. 
He  was   amazed  to  see  how  his  sleepless  dash  to 
head  off  Red  Cloud,  and  his  clays  and  nights  of  gal 
lop   back,  had   told    upon   him.     Women    at   Fort 
Emory  who   looked   with   approving   eyes   on   his 
ruddy  face  and  trim,  erect  figure,  all  so  eloquent  of 
health,  and   who   possibly   contemplated,   too,   his 
solid  bank  account,  and    that  fast-building  house, 
the  finest  in  Gate  City,  had  been  telling  him  all 
winter  long  he  ought  to  have  a  companion — an 
elder  guide   for  Miss  Elinor  on   her  return ;   he 
ought  to  have  some  one  to  preside  at  his  table ;  and 
honest  John  had  promptly  answered  :  "Why,  Nell 
will  do  all  that,"  which  necessitated  their  hinting 
that  although  Miss  Folsom  would  be  a  young  lady  in 
years,  she  was  only  a  child  in  experience,  and  would 
be  much  the  better  for  some  one  who  could  take  a 
mother's  place.     "  ISTo  one  could  do  that,"  said  John, 
with  sudden  swimming  of  his  eyes,  and  that  put  as 
sudden  a  stop  to  their  schemings,  for  the  time   at 
least,  but  only  for  the  time.     Taking  counsel  to 
gether,  and  thinking  how  lovely  it  would  be  now 
if  Mr.  Folsom  would  only  see  how  much  there  was 
in  this  unmarried  damsel,  or  that  widowed  dame, 
the  coterie  at  Emory  again  returned  to  the  subject, 


60  WARRIOR  GAP. 

until  John,  in  his  perplexity,  got  the  idea  that  pro 
priety  demanded  that  he  should  have  a  housekeeper 
against  his  daughter's  coining,  and  then  he  did  go 
and  do,  in  his  masculine  stupidity,  just  exactly 
what  they  couldn't  have  had  him  do  for  worlds — 
invite  a  woman,  of  whom  none  of  their  number  had 
ever  heard,  to  come  from  Omaha  and  take  the  do 
mestic  management  of  his  hearth  and  home.  All 
he  knew  of  her  was  what  he  heard  there.  She  was 
the  widow  of  a  volunteer  officer  who  had  died  of 
disease  contracted  during  the  war.  She  was  child 
less,  almost  destitute,  accomplished,  and  so  devoted 
to  her  church  duties.  She  was  interesting  and  re 
fined,  and  highly  educated.  lie  heard  the  eulo- 
giums  pronounced  by  the  good  priest  and  some  of 
his  flock,  and  Mrs.  Fletcher,  a  substantial  person  of 
some  forty  years  at  least,  was  duly  installed. 

Fort  Emory  was  filled  with  women  folk  and  con* 
sternation — most  of  the  men  being  afield.  The 
seething  question  of  the  hour  was  whether  they 
should  call  on  her,  whether  she  was  to  be  received 
at  the  fort,  whether  she  was  to  be  acknowledged 
and  recognized  at  all,  and  then  came,  mirabile  dictu, 
a  great  government  official  from  Washington  to 
inspect  the  Union  Pacific  and  make  speeches  at 
various  points  along  the  road,  and  Mrs.  Fletcher, 
mind  you,  walked  to  church  the  very  next  Sunday 


GAP.  61 

on  the  Honorable  Secretary's  arm,  sat  by  his  side 
when  he  drove  out  to  hear  the  band  at  Emory,  and 
received  with  him  on  the  colonel's  veranda,  and 
that  settled  it.  Received  and  acknowledged  and 
visited  she  had  to  be.  She  might  well  prove  a 
woman  worth  knowing. 

Within  a  fortnight  she  had  made  the  new  home 
stead  blossom  like  the  rose.  Within  a  month  every 
thing  was  in  perfect  order  for  the  reception  of  Elinor 
and  her  school  friend — a  busy,  anxious  month,  in 
which  Folsom  was  flitting  to  and  fro  to  Reno  and 
Frayne,  as  we  have  seen  ;  to  Hal's  ranch  in  the 
Medicine  Bow,  to  Rawhide  and  Laramie,  and  the 
reservations  in  Northwestern  Nebraska ;  and  it  so 
happened  that  he  was  away  the  night  Major  Bur- 
leigh,  on  his  way  to  the  depot,  dropped  in  to  inquire 
if  he  could  see  Mr.  Folsom  a  moment  on  important 
business.  The  servant  said  he  was  not  in  town- 
had  gone,  she  thought,  to  Omaha.  She  would 
inquire  of  Mrs.  Fletcher,  and  meantime  would  the 
major  step  inside  ?  Step  inside,  and  stand  wonder- 
ingly  at  the  threshold  of  the  pretty  parlor  he  did ; 
and  then  there  was  a  rustle  of  silken  skirts  on  the 
floor  above,  and,  as  he  turned  to  listen,  his  haggard, 
careworn  face  took  on  a  look  something  like  that 
which  overspread  it  the  night  he  got  the  letter  at 
Reno — something  that  told  of  bewilderment  and 


62  WAEHIOR  GAP. 

perplexity  as  a  quiet,  modulated  voice  told  the 
servant  to  tell  the  gentleman  Mr.  Folsom  might  not 
return  for  several  days.  Burleigh  had  no  excuse  to 
linger,  none  to  ask  to  hear  that  voice  again ;  yet  as 
he  slowly  descended  the  steps  its  accents  were  still 
strangely  ringing  in  his  ears.  Where  on  earth  had 
he  heard  that  voice  before  2 


WARllIOR  GAP.  63 


CHAPTER  YI. 

THE  quartermaster's  depot  at  Gate  City  was  little 
more  than  a  big  corral,  with  a  double  row  of  low, 
wooden  sheds  for  the  storing  of  clothing,  camp  and 
garrison  equipage.  There  was  a  blacksmith  and 
wagon  repair  shop,  and  a  brick  office  building. 
Some  cottage  quarters  for  the  officer  in  charge  and 
his  clerks,  corral  master,  etc.,  stood  close  at  hand, 
while  most  of  the  employees  lived  in  town  outside 
the  gates.  A  single-track  spur  connected  the  depot 
with  the  main  line  of  the  Union  Pacific  only  five 
hundred  yards  away,  and  the  command  at  Fort 
Emory,  on  the  bluff  above  the  rapid  stream,  fur 
nished,  much  to  its  disgust,  the  necessary  guard.  A 
much  bigger  "plant"  was  in  contemplation  near  a 
larger  post  and  town  on  the  east  side  of  the  great 
divide,  and  neither  Fort  Emory  nor  its  charge — the 
quartermaster's  depot — was  considered  worth  keep 
ing  in  repair,  except  such  as  could  be  accomplished 
"  by  the  labor  of  troops,"  which  was  why,  when  he 
wasn't  fighting  Indians,  the  frontier  soldier  of  that 


£4  WARRIOR  GAP. 

day  was  mainly  occupied  in  doing  tae  odd  jobs  of  a 
day  laborer,  without  the  recompense  of  one,  or  his 
privilege  of  quitting  if  he  didn't  like  the  job.  That 
he  should  know  little  of  drill  and  less  of  parade 
was,  therefore,  not  to  be  wondered  at. 

But  what  he  didn't  know  about  guard  duty  was 
hardly  worth  knowing.  He  had  prisoners  and 
property  of  every  conceivable  kind — Indians,  horse 
thieves,  thugs  and  deserters,  magazines  and  medi 
cines,  mules  and  munitions  of  war.  Everything  had 
to  be  guarded.  The  fort  lay  a  mile  to  the  west  of  and 
two  hundred  feet  higher  than  the  railway  hotel  in 
the  heart  of  the  town.  It  looked  down  upon  the 
self-styled  city,  and  most  of  its  womenkind  did  the 
same  on  the  citizens,  who  were,  it  must  be  owned,  a 
rather  mixed  lot.  The  sudden  discovery  of  gold  in 
the  neighboring  foothills,  the  fact  that  it  promised 
to  be  the  site  of  the  division  car  shops  and  round 
house,  that  the  trails  to  the  Upper  Platte,  the 
Sweet\vater,  the  Park  country  to  the  south,  and  the 
rich  game  regions  of  the  Medicine  Bow  all  centered 
there,  and  that  stages  left  no  less  than  twice  a  week 
for  some  of  those  points,  and  the  whole  land  was 
alive  with  explorers  for  a  hundred  miles  around — 
all  had  tended  to  give  Gate  City  a  remarkable 
boom.  Cheyenne  and  Laramie,  thriving  frontier 
towns  with  coroners'  offices  in  full  blast  from  one 


GAP.  65 

week's  end  to  the  other,  and  a  double  force  on  duty 
Sundays,  confessed  to  and  exhibited  pardonable 
jealousy.  Yet  there  was  wisdom  in  the  warning  of 
an  old  friend  and  fellow  frontiersman,  who  said  to 
Folsom,  rt  You  are  throwing  yourself  and  your 
money  away,  John.  There's  nothing  in  those  gold 
stories,  there's  nothing  in  that  yawp  about  the 
machine  shops ;  all  those  yarns  were  started  by  U. 
P.  fellows  with  corner  lots  to  sell.  The  bottom  will 
drop  out  of  that  place  inside  of  a  year  and  leave  you 
stranded." 

All  the  same  had  Folsom  bought  big  blocks  and 
built  his  home  there.  It  was  the  nearest  town  of 
promise  to  Hal  Folsom's  wild  but  beautiful  home 
in  the  hills,  and,  almost  as  he  loved  Nell,  his  bonny 
daughter,  did  the  old  trader  love  his  stalwart  son. 
Born  a  wild  Westerner,  reared  among  the  Sioux 
with  only  Indians  or  army  boys  for  playmates,  and 
precious  little  choice  in  point  of  savagery  between 
them,  Hal  had  grown  up  a  natural  horseman  with  a 
love  for  and  knowledge  of  the  animal  that  is  ac 
corded  to  few.  His  ambition  in  life  was  to  own  a 
stock  farm.  All  the  education  he  had  in  the  world 
he  owed  to  the  kindness  of  loving-hearted  army 
women  at  Laramie,  women  who  befriended  him 
when  well-nigh  broken-hearted  by  his  mother's 
death.  Early  he  had  pitched  his  tent  on  the  very 


GAP. 


spot  for  a  ranchman's  homestead,  early  he  had 
fallen  in  love  with  an  array  girl,  who  married  the 
strapping  frontiersman  and  was  now  the  proud 
mistress  of  the  new  and  promising  stock  farm  nest 
ling  in  the  valley  of  the  Laramie,  a  devoted  wife 
and  mother.  The  weekly  stage  to  the  railway  was 
the  event  of  their  placid  days  except  when  some  of 
the  officers  and  ladies  would  come  from  either  of 
the  neighboring  posts  and  spend  a  week  with  her 
and  Hal.  From  being  a  delicate,  consumptive  child, 
Mrs.  Hal  had  developed  into  a  buxom  woman  with 
exuberant  health  and  spirits.  Life  to  her  might 
have  some  little  monotony,  but  few  cares  ;  many 
placid  joys,  but  only  one  great  dread  —  Indians. 
John  Folsom,  her  fond  father-in-law,  was  a  man  all 
Indians  trusted  and  most  of  them  loved.  Hal  Fol 
som,  her  husband,  had  many  a  trusted  and  devoted 
friend  among  the  Sioux,  but  he  had  also  enemies, 
and  Indian  enmity,  like  Indian  love,  dies  hard.  As 
boy  he  had  sometimes  triumphed  in  games  and 
sports  over  the  champions  of  the  villages.  As 
youth  he  had  more  than  once  found  favor  in  the 
dark  eyes  that  looked  coldly  on  fiercer,  fonder 
claimants,  and  one  girl  of  the  Ogallallas  had  turned 
from  her  kith  and  kin,  spurned  more  than  one  red 
lover  to  seek  the  young  trader  when  he  left  the 
reservation  to  build  his  o\vn  nest  in  the  Medicine 


GAP.  6? 

Bow,  and  they  told  a  skny  as  pathetic  as  that  of 
the  favorite  daughter  of  old  Sintogaliska,  chief  of 
the  Brule  Sioux,  who  pined  and  died  at  Laramie 
when  she  heard  that  the  soldier  she  loved  had  come 
back  from  the  far  East  with  a  pale-faced  bride. 
There  were  red  men  of  the  Ogallallas  to  whom  the 
name  of  Hal  Folsorn  was  a  taunt  and  insult  to  this 
day,  men  whom  his  father  had  vainly  sought  to 
appease,  and  they  were  Burning  Star,  the  lover, 
and  two  younger  braves,  the  brothers  of  the  girl 
they  swore  that  Hal  had  lured  away. 

South  of  the  Platte,  as  it  rolled  past  Frayne 
and  Laramie,  those  Indians  were  bound  by  treaty 
not  to  go.  North  of  the  Platte  Ilal  Folsom  was 
warned  never  again  to  venture.  These  were  stories 
which  were  well  known  to  the  parents  of  the  girl 
he  wooed  and  won,  but  which  probably  were  not 
fully  explained  to  her.  Now,  even  behind  the 
curtain  of  that  sheltering  river,  with  its  flanking 
•forts,  even  behind  the  barrier  of  the  mountains  of 
the  Medicine  Bow,  she  often  woke  at  night  and 
clutched  her  baby  to  her  breast  when  the  yelping 
of  the  coyotes  came  rising  on  the  wind.  There  was 
no  woman  in  "Wyoming  to  whom  war  with  Red 
Cloud's  people  bore  such  dread  possibility  as  to  Hal 
Folsom's  wife. 

And  so  when  Marshall  Dean  came  riding  in  one 


68  WAnmon  GAP. 

glad  June  morning,  bronzed,  and  tanned,  and  buoy 
ant,  and  tossed  his  reins  to  the  orderly  who  trotted 
at  his  heels,  while  the  troop  dismounted  and  watered 
at  the  stream,  Mrs.  Folsom's  heart  was  gladdened 
by  his  confident  and  joyous  bearing.  Twice,  thrice 
he  had  seen  Red  Cloud  and  all  his  braves,  and  there 
was  nothing,  said  he,  to  worry  about.  "  Ugly,  of 
course  they  are ;  got  some  imaginary  grievances  and 
talk  big  about  the  warpath.  Why,  what  show 
would  those  fellows  have  with  their  old  squirrel 
rifles  and  gas-pipe  Springfields  against  our  new 
breech-loaders?  They  know  it  as  well  as  we  do. 
It's  all  a  bluff,  Mrs.  Folsom.  You  mark  my  words," 
said  he,  and  really  the  boy  believed  it.  Frequent 
contact  in  the  field  with  the  red  warriors  inspires 
one  with  little  respect  for  their  skill  or  prowess 
until  that  contact  becomes  hostile,  then  it's  time  to 
keep  every  sense  on  guard  and  leave  no  point  un 
covered. 

"  But  what  if  the  Indian  Bureau  should  let  them 
have  breech-loaders  ?"  she  anxiously  asked.  "  You 
know  that  is  Red  Cloud's  demand." 

"  Oh,"  said  Dean,  with  confidence  born  of  inex 
perience  in  the  Bureau  ways.  "  they  couldn't  be  such 
fools.  Besides,  if  they  do,"  he  added  hopefully, 
"you'll  see  my  troop  come  trotting  back  full  tilt. 
Now,  Pin  counting  on  a  good  time  at  Ernory,  and 


WARRIOR  GAP.  69 

on  bringing  your  sister  and  mine  up  here  to  see 
you." 

"  It  will  be  just  lovely,"  said  Mrs.  Hal,  with  a 
woman's  natural  but  unspoken  comparison  between 
the  simplicity  of  her  ranch  toilet  and  the  probable 
elegancies  of  the  young  ladies'  Eastern  costumes. 
"They'll  find  us  very  primitive  up  here  in  the 
mountains,  I'm  afraid ;  but  if  they  like  scenery  and 
horseback  riding  and  fishing  there's  nothing  like  it." 

"  Oh,  they're  coming  sure.  Jessie's  letters  tell 
me  that's  one  of  the  big  treats  Mr.  Folsom  has 
promised  them.  Just  think,  they  should  be  along 
this  week,  and  I  shall  be  stationed  so  near  them  at 
Emory — of  ail  places  in  the  world." 

"  How  long  is  it  since  you  have  seen  Elinor — 
'  Pappoose,'  as  your  sister  calls  her,"  asked  Mrs. 
Hal,  following  the  train  of  womanly  thought  then 
drifting  through  her  head,  as  she  set  before  her 
visitor  a  brimming  goblet  of  buttermilk. 

"  Two  years.  She  was  at  the  Point  a  day  or  two 
the  summer  of  our  graduation,"  he  answered  care 
lessly.  "  A  real  little  Indian  girl  she  was,  too,  so 
dark  and  shy  and  silent,  yet  I  heard  Professor 

M 's  daughters  and  others  speak  of  her  later ; 

she  pleased  them  so  much,  and  Jessie  thinks  there's 
no  girl  like  her." 

"  And  you  haven't  seen  her  since — not  even  her 


70  WARRIOR  GAP. 

picture?"  asked  Mrs.  Hal,  rising  from  her  easy- 
chair,  ''  Just  let  me  show  you  the  one  she  sent  Hal 
last  week.  I  think  there's  a  surprise  in  store  for 
you,  young  man,"  was  her  mental  addition,  as  she 
tripped  within  doors. 

The  nurse  girl,  a  half-breed,  one  of  the  numerous 
progeny  of  the  French  trappers  and  explorers  who 
had  married  among  the  Sioux,  was  hushing  the 
burly  little  son  and  heir  to  sleep  in  his  Indian 
cradle,  crooning  some  song  about  the  fireflies  and 
and  Ileecha,  the  big-e}Ted  owl,  and  the  mother 
stooped  to  press  her  lips  upon  the  rounded  cheek 
and  to  flick  away  a  tear-drop,  for  Hal  2d  had 
"voared  lustily  when  ordered  to  his  noonday  nap. 
Away  to  the  northward  the  heavily  wooded  heights 
seemed  tipped  by  fleecy,  summer  clouds,  and  off  to 
the  northeast  Laramie  Peak  thrust  his  dense  crop 
of  pine  and  scrub  oak  above  the  mass  of  snowy 
vapor  that  floated  lazily  across  that  grim-visaged 
southward  scarp.  The  drowsy  hum  of  insects,  the 
plash  of  cool,  running  waters  fell  softly  on  the  ear. 
Under  the  shade  of  willow  and  cotton  wood  cattle 
and  horses  were  lazily  switching  at  the  swarm  of 
gnats  and  flies  or  dozing  through  the  heated  hours  of 
the  day.  Out  on  the  level  flat  beyond  the  corral 
the  troopers  had  unsaddled,  and  the  chargers,  many 
of  them  stopping  to  roll  in  equine  ecstasy  upon  UIQ 


WARRIOR  GAP.  71 

turf,  were  being  driven  out  in  one  big  herd  to  graze. 
Without  and  within  the  ranch  everything  seemed 
to  speak  of  peace  and  security.  The  master  rode 
the  range  long  miles  away  in  search  of  straying 
cattle,  leaving  his  loved  ones  without  thought  of 
danger.  The  solemn  treaty  that  bound  the  Sioux 
to  keep  to  the  north  of  the  Flatte  stood  sole  sentinel 
over  his  vine  and  fig  tree.  True  there  had  been  one 
or  two  instances  of  depredation,  but  they  could  be 
fastened  on  no  particular  band,  and  all  the  chiefs, 
even  defiant  Red  Cloud,  and  insolent,  swaggering 
Little  Big  Man,  denied  all.  knowledge  of  the  per 
petrators.  Spotted  Tail,  it  was  known,  would 
severely  punish  any  of  his  people  who  transgressed, 
but  he  could  do  nothing  with  the  Ogallallas.  Now 
they  were  not  two  hundred  miles  away  to  the 
north,  their  ranks  swollen  by  accessions  from  all 
the  disaffected  villages  and  turbulent  young  braves 
of  the  swarming  bands  along  the  Missouri  and 
Yellowstone,  and  if  their  demands  were  resisted  by 
the  government,  or  worse,  if  they  were  permitted 
to  have  breech-loaders  or  magazine  rifles,  then  just 
coming  into  use,  no  shadow  of  doubt  remained  that 
war  to  the  knife  would  follow.  Then  how  long 
would  it  be  before  they  came  charging  down  across 
the  Platte,  east  or  wtest  of  Frayne,  and  raiding 
those  new  ranches  in  the  Laramie  Valley  ? 


72  WARRIOR  GAP. 

Keassuring  as  he  meant  his  words  to  be,  Marshall 
Dean  himself  looked  anxiously  about  at  the  unpro 
tected  walls.  Not  even  the  customary  "dugout" 
or  underground  refuge  seemed  to  have  been  pre 
pared.  Almost  every  homestead,  big  or  little,  of 
those  days,  had  its  tunnel  from  the  cellar  to  a  dug 
out  near  at  hand,  stocked  with  provisions  and  water 
and  provided  with  loopholes  command  ing  the  neigh 
borhood,  and  herein  the  besieged  could  take  refuge 
and  stand  off  the  Indians  until  help  should  come 
from  the  nearest  frontier  fort.  "  The  name  of  Fol- 
som  is  our  safeguard,"  said  Mrs.  Hal,  in  her  happy 
honeymoon  days,  but  that  was  before  the  mother 
told  her  of  the  threats  of  Burning  Star  or  the  story 
of  the  Ogallalla  girl  he  vainly  loved.  "All  that 
happened  so  long  ago,"  she  murmured,  when  at  last 
the  tale  wras  told.  But  Hal  should  have  known,  if 
she  did  not,  that,  even  when  it  seems  to  sleep,  Indian 
vengeance  is  but  gaining  force  and  fury. 

Presently  Mrs.  Hall  came  tripping  forth  again,  a 
little  carte  de  visite  in  her  hand,  a  smile  of  no  little 
significance  on  her  lips.  "  Now,  Mr.  Dean,  will  you 
tell  me  what  you  think  of  that  for  a  pappoose  ?" 

And  with  wonderment  in  his  eyes  the  young 
officer  stood  and  held  it  and  gazed. 

There  stood  Pappoose,  to  be  sure,  but  what  a 
change  !  The  little  maiden  with  the  dark  braids  of 


WARRIOR  GAP.  73 

hair  hanging  far  below  her  waist  had  developed 
into  a  tall,  slender  girl,  with  clear-cut,  oval  face, 
crowned  by  a  mass  of  dark  tresses.  Her  heavy,  low- 
arching  brows  spanned  the  thoughtful,  deep,  dark- 
brown  eyes  that  seemed  to  speak  the  soul  within, 
and  the  beautiful  face  was  lighted  up  with  a  smile 
that  showed  just  a  peep  of  faultless  white  teeth, 
gleaming  through  the  warm  curves  of  her  soft, 
sensitive  lips.  The  form  was  exquisitely  rounded, 
yet  supple  and  erect. 

"  Hasn't  Jessie  written  you  of  how  Nell  has 
grown  and  improved?"  said  Mrs.  Hall,  with  a 
woman's  quick  note  of  the  admiration  and  surprise 
in  Dean's  regard. 

"  She  must  have,"  was  the  answer,  "  I'm  sure  she 
has,  but  perhaps  I  thought  it  schoolgirl  rhapsody 
— perhaps  I  had  too  many  other  things  to  think  of." 

"  Perhaps  you'll  find  it  superseding  these  too 
many  things,  Mr.  Soldier  Boy,"  was  Mrs.  Hal's 
mental  comment.  "Now,  sir,  if  you've  gazed 
enough  perhaps  you'll  tell  me  your  plans,"  and  she 
stretched  forth  a  reclaiming  hand. 

But  he  hung  on  to  the  prize.  "Let  me  keep  it  a 
minute,"  he  pleaded.  "It's  the  loveliest  thing  I've 
seen  in  months." 

And,  studying  his  absorbed  face,  she  yielded,  her 
eyebrows  arching,  a  pretty  smile  of  feminine 


74  WARRIOR  GAP. 

triumph  about  her  lips,  and  neither  noticed  the  non 
commissioned  officer  hurrying  within  the  gate,  nor 
that  half  the  men  in  "  C'?  Troop  at  their  bivouac 
along  the  stream  were  on  their  feet  and  gazing  to 
northeast,  that  far  down  the  valley  a  horseman  was 
speeding  like  the  wind,  that  little  puffs  of  smoke 
were  rising  from  the  crests  of  the  grand  landmark 
of  the  range  and  floating  into  the  blue  of  the 
heavens.  Both  started  to  their  feet  at  the  abrupt 
announcement. 

"  Lieutenant,  there  are  .smoke  signals  on  Lar'mie 
Peak." 


WARRIOR  GAP.  75 


CHAPTER  VII. 

LIEUTENANT  DEAN'S  orders  required  that  he  should 
march  his  troop  without  unnecessary  delay  to  Forb 
Emory,  there  to  take  station  relieving  Troop  "  F," 
ordered  to  change  to  Frayne,  which  meant,  in  so 
many  words,  to  take  the  field.  Captain  Brooks, 
still  wrestling  with  the  fever,  had  retired  to  his 
quarters  at  the  old  frontier  fort  that  stood  so  long 
on  the  bluffs  overlooking  the  fords  of  the  Platte. 
The  surgeon  said  he  must  remain  in  bed  at  least  a 
week,  so  meantime  the  troop  packed  up,  sent  its 
wagons  ahead  over  the  range,  bade  God  speed  to 
"  F  "  as  it  passed  through  en  route  to  the  front,  ex 
changed  a  volley  of  chaff  and  chewing  tobacco  over 
the  parting  game  of  "  freeze  out"  fought  to  a  finish 
on  many  an  outspread  saddle  blanket,  then,  jogged 
on  toward  Gate  City,  making  wide  detour  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  field  officer  in  command  at 
Frayne,  that  they  might  scout  the  Laramio 
plains  and  see  that  all  was  well  at  Folsom's  ranch. 
This  detour  was  duly  reported  to  the  peppery 


76  WARRIOR  GAP. 

veteran  at  Fort  Emory,  an  old  colonel  whose  com 
mand  was  by  this  time  reduced  from  "  headquarters, 
field,  staff  and  band,"  six  companies  of  infantry  and 
four  troops  of  cavalry,  to  the  band  and  two 
desperately  overworked  companies  of  foot.  "  Two 
nights  in  bed"  were  all  his  men  could  hope  for,  and 
sometimes  no  more  than  one,  so  grievous  was  the 
guard  duty.  Hence  "  old  Pecksniff,"  his  adjutant 
and  quartermaster  and  his  two  remaining  com 
panies  saw  fit  to  take  it  as  most  unkind  in 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Ford  to  authorize  that  diversion 
of  Dean's,  and  highly  improper  on  Dean's  part  to 
attempt  it.  By  this  time,  too,  there  was  in 
circulation  at  Emory  a  story  that  this  transfer  of 
"  C  "  to  interior  lines  and  away  from  probable  con 
tact  with  the  Sioux  was  not  so  much  that  it  had 
done  far  more  than  its  share  of  that  arduous  work, 
completely  using  up  its  captain,  as  that,  now  the 
captain  was  used  up,  the  authorities  had  their  doubts 
as  to  the  "  nerve"  of  the  lieutenant  in  temporary 
command.  .  A  fellow  who  didn't  care  to  come  to 
Emory  and  preferred  rough  duty  up  along  the 
Platte  must  be  lacking  in  some  essential  particular, 
thought  the  women  folk,  and  at  the  very  moment 
that  Marshall  Dean  sat  there  at  Hal  Folsonrs  ranch, 
as  brave  and  hardy  and  capable  a  young  officer  as 
ever  forded  the  Platte,  looking  forward  with 


WARRlOtt  GAP.  <tf 

pleasurable  anticipations  to  those  days  to  come  at 
Emory,  with  Jessie — Jessie  and,  of  course,  Pappoose 
— so  close  at  hand  in  town,  there  was  gaining 
ground  at  the  post  an  impression  that  the  safety  of 
the  board  of  officers  sent  to  choose  the  site  of  the 
new  Big  Horn  post  had  been  imperiled  by  Dean's 
weakening  at  a  critical  moment  in  presence  of  a 
band  of  probably  hostile  Sioux.  Burleigh  had 
plainly  intimated  as  much  to  his  chief  clerk  and 
Colonel  Stevens,  and  when  Loring  and  Stone  came 
through  a  day  or  two  later  and  questions  were 
asked  about  that  meeting,  the  aide-de-camp  gave  it 
as  distinctly  to  be  understood  that  he  had  prac 
tically  assumed  command,  Dean's  inexperience 
being  manifest,  and  his  o\vn  prompt  measures  had 
extricated  the  little  detachment  from  a  most 
delicate  and  dangerous  position.  The  engineer,  let 
it  be  said,  did  not  hear  this  statement,  and  the  aid 
was  very  careful  not  to  make  it  in  his  presence.  He 
was  a  comparative  stranger  and  as  no  one  presumed 
to  question  him,  he  volunteered  no  information. 

Planning  to  bivouac  until  dawn  of  the  next  day 
at  Folsom's,  Dean  had  then  intended  to  reach  Fort 
Emory  in  three  easy  marches.  He  was  anxious  to 
bring  his  horses  in  in  best  possible  condition,  despite 
all  their  hard  service ;  yet  now,  barely  two  o'clock 
on  this  hot  June  afternoon,  came  most  unlooked-for, 


?8  WAHHIOR  GAP. 

most  importunate  interruption  to  his  plans.  Spring 
ing  to  the  gate  at  the  sergeant's  summons,  he  first 
directed  his  gaze  to  the  distant  peak,  recognized 
instantly  the  nature  of  the  smoke  puffs  there  rising, 
then  turned  for  explanation  to  the  swift-riding 
courier,  whose  horse's  heels  were  making  the  dust 
fly  from  the  sun-dried  soil.  One  or  two  ranch 
hands,  with  anxious  faces,  came  hastening  over  from 
the  corral.  The  darkey  cook  rushed  up  from  the 
kitchen,  rifle  in  hand.  Plainly  these  fellows  were 
well  used  to  war's  alarms.  Mrs.  Folsom,  with 
staring  eyes  and  dreadful  anxiety  in  her  face,  gazed 
only  at  the  hurrying  courier,  clinging  the  while  to 
the  pillar  of  the  portico,  as  though  needing  support. 
The  smoke  puffs  on  the  mountain,  the  dust-cloud 
back  of  the  tearing  rider  were  symptoms  enough  for 
Dean. 

"  Get  in  your  herd,  sergeant !"  he  shouted  at  the 
top  of  his  voice ;  and  over  the  rushing  of  the  Lar- 
arnie  his  words  reached  the  rousing  bivouac,  and 
saddle  blankets  were  sent  swinging  in  air  in  signal 
1,0  the  distant  guards,  and  within  a  few  seconds 
6-'?e."y  horse  was  headed  for  home ;  and  then,  to  the 
sound  of  excited  voices  was  added  the  rising  thun- 
aer  of  scores  of  bounding  hoofs,  as,  all  in  a  dust-cloud 
of  their  own,  the  sixty  chargers  came  galloping  in, 
ears  erect,  eyes  ablaze,  nostrils  wide,  manes  and 


GAP,  79 

tails  streaming  in  the  breeze,  guided  by  their  eager 
guards  full  tilt  for  camp.  Out  ran  their  riders, 
bridles  in  hand,  to  meet  and  check  them,  every 
horse  when  within  a  few  yards  of  his  master  seem 
ing  to  settle  on  his  haunches  and  plow  up  the  turf 
in  the  sudden  effort  to  check  his  speed,  long  months 
of  service  on  the  plains  and  in  the  heart  of  Indian 
land  having  taught  them  in  times  of  alarm  or  peril 
that  the  quicker  they  reached  the  guiding  hand  and 
bore,  each,  his  soldier  on  his  back,  the  quicker  would 
vanish  the  common  foe.  Even  before  the  panting 
steed  of  the  headlong  courier  came  within  hailing 
distance  of  the  ranch,  half  the  horses  in  the  troop 
were  caught  and  the  bits  were  rattling  between 
their  teeth ;  then,  as  the  messenger  tore  along  the 
gentle  slope  that  led  to  the  gateway,  his  wearied 
horse  laboring  painfully  at  the  rise,  Mrs.  Folsom 
recognized  one  of  her  husband's  herdsmen,  a  man 
who  had  lived  long  years  in  Wyoming  and  could  be 
unnerved  by  no  false  alarm,  and  her  voice  went  up 
in  a  shriek  of  fear  as  she  read  the  tidings  in  his 
almost  ghastly  face. 

"  Where  is  Hal  ?"  she  screamed.  "  Oh,  what  has 
happened  ?" 

"  He's  safe,"  was  the  answering  call,  as  the  rider 
waved  a  reassuring  hand,  but  at  the  instant  he  bent 
low.  "  Thank  God,  you're  here,  lieutenant,"  he 


80  WA&&IOR  GAP. 

gasped.  "  Mount  quick,  Hal's  corralled  two  miles 
out  there  under  the  butte — Sioux  !"  And  then  they 
saw  that  he  was  swooning,  that  the  blood  was 
streaming  down  the  left  thigh  and  leg,  and  before 
hand  could  help  him,  he  rolled  senseless,  doubled 
up  in  the  dust  at  his  horse's  feet,  and  the  weary 
creature  never  even  started. 

"  Saddle  up,  men  !"  rang  the  order  across  the 
stream.  And  then  while  strong  arras  lifted  and 
bore  the  wounded  herdsman  to  the  porch,  Dean 
turned  to  the  wailing  mistress,  who,  white-faced 
and  terror-stricken,  was  wringing  her  hands  and 
moaning  and  running  wildly  up  and  down  the  walk 
and  calling  for  some  one  to  go  and  save  her  hus 
band.  Dean  almost  bore  her  to  a  chair  and  bade 
her  fear  nothing.  He  and  his  men  would  lose  not  a 
moment.  On  the  floor  at  her  feet  lay  the  little 
card  photograph,  and  Dean,  hardly  thinking  what 
he  did,  stooped,  picked  it  up  and  placed  it  in  the 
pocket  of  his  hunting  shirt,  just  as  the  trumpeter 
on  his  plunging  gray  reached  the  gate,  Dean's  big, 
handsome  charger  trotting  swiftly  alongside.  In 
an  instant  the  lieutenant  was  in  saddle,  in  another 
second  a  trooper  galloped  up  with  his  belt  and  car 
bine.  Already  the  men  were  leading  into  line 
across  the  stream,  and,  bidding  the  trumpeter  tell 
Sergeant  Shaughnessy  to  follow  at  speed,  the  young 


WARRIOR  GAP.  81 

officer  struck  spur  to  his  horse  and,  carbine  in  hand, 
a  single  trooper  at  his  heels,  away  he  darted  down 
the  valley,  "  C  "  Troop,  splashing  through  the  ford 
a  moment  later,  took  the  direct  road  past  the  stock 
ade  of  the  corral,  disappeared  from  sight  a  moment 
behind  that  wooden  fortification,  and,  when  next  it 
hove  in  view,  it  was  galloping  front  into  line  far 
down  the  Laramie,  then  once  more  vanished  behind 
its  curtain  of  dust. 

"Two  miles  out  there  under  the  butte,"  was  the 
only  indication  the  young  officer  had  of  the  scene 
of  the  fight,  for  fight  he  knew  it  must  be,  and  even 
as  he  went  bounding  down  the  valley  he  recalled 
the  story  of  the  Indian  girl,  the  threats  of  Burning 
Star,  the  vowed  vengeance  of  her  brothers.  Could 
it  be  that,  taking  advantage  of  this  raid  of  Red 
Cloud,  far  from  all  the  reservations,  far  from  poss-i 
bility  of  detection  by  count  of  prying  agents,  the 
three  had  induced  a  gang  of  daring,  devil-may-care 
young  warriors  to  slip  away  from  the  Big  Horn 
with  them  and,  riding  stealthily  away  from  the 
beaten  trails,  to  ford  the  Platte  beyond  the  ken  of 
watchful  eyes  at  Frayne  and  sneak  through  the 
mountain-  range  to  the  beautiful,  fertile  valley  be 
yond  ,  and  there  lie  in  wait  for  Hal  Folsom  or  for 
those  he  loved  ?  What  was  to  prevent  ?  "Well  they 
knew  the  exact  location  of  his  ranch.  They  had 


82  WARHIOR  GAP. 

fished  and  sported  all  about  it  in  boy  days — days 
when  the  soldiers  and  the  Sioux  were  all  good 
friends,  davs  before  the  mistaken  policy  of  a  post 
commander  had  led  to  an  attack  upon  a  peaceful 
band,  and  that  to  the  annihilation  of  the  attacking 
party.  From  that  fatal  day  of  the  G  rattan  massacre 
ten  years  before,  there  had  been  no  real  truce  with 
the  Sioux,  and  now  was  opportunity  afforded  for  a 
long-plotted  revenge.  Dean  wondered  Folsom  had 
not  looked  for  it  instead  of  sleeping  in  fancied 
security. 

A  mile  nearer  the  butte  and,  glancing  back,  he 
could  see  his  faithful  men  come  bounding  in  his 
tracks.  A  mile  ahead,  rising  abruptly  from  the 
general  level,  a  little  knoll  or  butte  jutted  out 
beyond  the  shoulders  of  the  foothills  and  stood 
sentinel  within  three  hundred  yards  of  the  stream. 
On  the  near — the  westward — side,  nothing  could  be 
seen  of  horse  or  man.  Something  told  him  he 
would  find  the  combatants  beyond — that  dead  or 
alive,  Hal  Folsom  would  be  there  awaiting  him.  A 
glance  at  the  commanding  height  and  the  ridge 
that  connected  it  with  the  tumbling,  wooded  hills 
to  the  north,  convinced  him  that  at  this  moment 
some  of  the  foe  were  lurking  there,  watching  the 
westward  valley,  and  by  this  time  they  knew  full 
well  of  the  coining  of  the  cavalry  to  the  rescue. 


GAP.  S3 

By  this  time,  more  than  likely,  they  were  scurrying 
off  to  the  mountains  again,  returning  the  way  they 
came,  with  a  start  of  at  least  two  miles. 

"  With  or  without  the  coveted  scalps  ?"  he  won 
dered.  Thus  far  he  had  been  riding  straight  for  the 
butte.  The  road  wound  along  and  disappeared  be 
hind  him,  but  there  was  no  sense  in  following  the 
road.  "  Pursue  and  punish,"  was  the  thing  to  be 
done.  Surely  not  more  than  a  dozen  were  in  the 
band,  else  that  courier  could  never  have  hoped  to 
get  in,  wounded  as  he  was.  The  Indians  were  too 
few  in  number  to  dare  follow  to  the  ranch,  guarded 
as,  by  almost  God-given  luck,  it  happened  to  be 
through  the  unlooked-for  presence  of  the  troops. 
No,  it  was  a  small  band,  though  a  daring  one.  Its 
lookout  had  surely  warned  it  by  this  time  of  his 
coming,  and  by  this  time,  too,  all  save  one  or  two 
who  rode  the  fleetest  ponies  and  lingered  probably 
for  a  parting  shot  at  the  foremost  of  the  chase,  had 
scampered  away  behind  the  curtain  of  that  ridge. 
Therefore,  in  long  curve,  never  checking  his  mag 
nificent  stride,  Dean  guided  his  bounding  bay  to  the 
left — the  northeast — and  headed  for  the  lowest  point 
of  the  divide. 

And  then  it  all  occurred  to  him  too  that  he  was 
far  in  front  of  his  men,  too  far  to  be  of  use  to  them 
\nd  just  far  enough  to  be  an  easy  prey  for  the  lurk- 


84  WARRIOR  GAP. 

ing  foe.  Then,  too,  it  occurred  to  him  that  he  must 
not  leave  the  ranch  unprotected,  Already  he  was 
within  long  rifle  range  of  the  height ;  already  prob 
ably  some  beady  eye  was  glancing  through  the 
sights,  and  the  deadly  tube  was  covering  him  as  he 
came  bounding  on.  Three  hundred  yards  more  and 
his  life  probably  wouldn't  be  worth  a  dollar  in  Con 
federate  money,  and  wisely  the  young  leader  began 
to  draw  rein,  and,  turning  in  saddle,  signaled  to  his 
single  companion,  laboring  along  one  hundred  yards 
behind,  to  hasten  to  join  him.  Presently  the  trooper 
came  spurring  up,  a  swarthy  young  German,  but 
though  straining  every  nerve  the  troop  was  still  a 
mile  away. 

"  Ride  back,  Wegner,  and  tell  the  sergeant  to  take 
ten  men  around  that  side — the  south  side  of  the 
bluff,"  and  he  pointed  with  his  hand  ;  "  the  rest  to 
come  straight  to  me." 

Oh,  well  was  it  for  Dean  that  he  checked  his 
speed,  and  as  the  young  dragoon  went  sputtering 
back,  that  he  himself  drew  rein  ar.d  waited  for  the 
coming  of  his  men.  Suddenly  from  far  out  along 
the  ridge  in  front,  from  the  very  crest  there  leaped 
a  jet  or  two  of  fire  and  smoke.  T\vo  little  spurts  of 
dust  and  turf  flew  up  from  the  prairie  sod  a  dozen 
yards  in  front,  a  rifle  bullet  went  singing  off  through 
the  sunny  air,  Rabb,  his  handsome  bay,  pawed  the 


WARRIOR  GAP.  85 

ground  and  switched  about,  and  up  on  the  crest, 
riding  boldly  in  full  view,  two  lithe,  naked,  painted 
warriors,  war  bonnets  trailing  over  their  ponies' 
croups,  yelling  shrill  insult  and  derision,  went  tear 
ing  away  northward,  one  of  them  pausing  long 
enough  to  wave  some  ragged  object  on  high,  and 
give  one  ringing,  exultant  whoop  ere  he  disappeared 
from  view. 

"  It's  a  scalp,  lieutenant,"  shouted  the  foremost 
sergeant  as  he  came  lunging  up  to  join  his  chief. 
"  They've  got  one,  anyhow." 

"  Come  on,  then,  and  we'll  get  it  back,"  was  the 
only  answer,  as  with  nearly  thirty  troopers  string 
ing  out  behind  them,  the  two  launched  out  in 
chase. 


86  WARRIOR  GAP. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OBEDIENT  to  his  orders  the  Irish  sergeant,  with  a 
little  squad  at  his  heels,  had  kept  straight  on.  A 
few  minutes  later,  rounding  the  bluff  at  the  gallop, 
eyes  flashing  over  the  field  in  front  of  them,  the 
party  went  racing  out  over  the  turf  and  came  in  full 
view  of  the  scene  of  the  fight.  Five  hundred  yards 
further  down  stream  was  a  deep  bend  in  the  Laramie. 
Close  to  the  water's  edge  two  horses  lay  stretched 
upon  the  ground,  stone  dead.  Out  on  the  open 
prairie  lay  an  Indian  pony  still  kicking  in  his  dying 
agony,  and  as  the  soldiers  came  sweeping  into  view 
two  men  rose  up  from  behind  the  low  bank  of  the 
stream  and  swung  their  hats — Hal  Folsoin  and  one 
of  his  hands  safe,  unwounded,  yet  with  a  look  in 
their  gray  faces  that  told  of  recent  mortal  peril. 

"  We're  all  right !  Go  on  after  them.  They've 
run  off  a  dozen  of  my  best  horses,"  said  Folsom, 
"  and  I'm  afraid  they  cut  off  Jake." 

"  No!  Jake  reached  the  ranch  all  right — leastwise 
somebody  did,"  said  Shaughnessy.  "That's  how 


WARRIOR  GAP.  87 

we  got  the  news.  They  got  somebody,  or  else  they 
were  only  bluffing  when  they  waved  that  scalp. 
How  many  were  there  ?" 

"At  least  a  dozen — too  many  for  you  to  tackle. 
Where's  the  rest  of  the  troop?" 

"  Close  at  their  heels.  The  lieutenant  led  them 
right  over  the  ridge.  Listen  !" 

Yes,  far  up  in  the  foothills,  faint  and  clear,  the 
sounds  of  the  chase  could  now  be  heard.  Dean's 
men  were  closing  on  the  fleeing  warriors,  for  every 
little  while  the  silence  of  the  range  was  broken  by 
the  crack  of  rifle  or  carbine.  Shaughnessy's  fellows 
began  to  fidget  and  look  eagerly  thither,  and  he 
read  their  wish.  "Two  of  you  stay  with  Mr.  Fol- 
som,"  he  said,  "  and  the  rest  come  with  me.  There's 
nothing  we  can  do  here,  is  there  ?  Sure,  you're  not 
hit?" 

"  No,  go  on !  Give  ?em  hell  and  get  back  my 
horses.  I'd  go  with  you,  but  they've  killed  what 
horses  they  couldn't  drive.  All  safe  at  the  ranch  ?" 

Shaughnessy  nodded  as  he  spurred  away.  "We'll 
be  gettin'  the  lieutenant  a  brevet  for  this,"  said  he, 
"  if  we  can  only  close  up  with  those  blackguards." 
And  these  were  the  words  Folsom  carried  back  with 
him,  as,  mounting  a  willing  trooper's  horse,  he  gal 
loped  homeward  to  reassure  his  wife,  thanking  God 
for  the  opportune  coming  of  the  little  command,  yet 


83  WARRIOR  GAP. 

swearing  with  close  compressed  lips  at  the  ill-starred 
work  of  the  day»  Thus  far  he  had  striven  to  keep 
from  her  all  knowledge  of  the  threats  of  the  Ogal- 
lallas,  although  he  knew  she  must  have  heard  of 
them.  He  had  believed  himself  secure  so  far  back 
from  the  Platte.  He  had  done  everything  in  his 
power  to  placate  Eed  Cloud  and  the  chiefs— to  con- 
vince  his  former  friends  that  he  had  never  enticed 
poor  Lizette,  as  Baptiste  had  called  the  child,  from 
her  home  and  people.  They  held  he  should  never 
have  left  her,  though  she  had  accused  him  of  no 
wrong.  Burning  Star,  in  his  jealous  rage,  hated 
him,  because  he  believed  that  but  for  love  of  the 
paleface  Lizette  would  have  listened  to  his  wooing, 
and  FolsonVs  conscience  could  not  acquit  him  of 
having  seen  her  preference  and  of  leading  her  on. 
He  could  not  speak  of  her  to  his  wife  without  shame 
and  remorse.  He  had  no  idea  what  could  have  been 
her  fate,  for  the  poor  girl  had  disappeared  from  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  now,  at  last,  this  day  had 
proved  to  him  the  threats  of  her  lover  and  her 
brothers  were  not  idle.  He  had  had  so  narrow  a 
squeak  for  his  life,  so  sharp  and  sudden  and  hard  a 
fight  for  it  that,  now  that  the  peril  was  over,  his  nerve 
began  to  give  way,  his  strong  hands  to  tremble. 
Armed  with  breech-loaders,  he  and  his  t\vo  friends 
had  been  able  to  stand  off  the  attacking  party,  kill- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  89 

ing  two  ponies,  and  emptying,  they  felt  sure,  two 
saddles ;  but  little  by  little  the  Indians  were  work 
ing  around  their  position,  and  would  have  crawled 
upon  them  within  an  hour  or  two  but  for  Jake's 
daring  ride  for  help  and  the  blessed  coming  of  the 
bluecoats  in  the  nick  of  time.  Folsora  swore  he'd 
never  forget  their  services  this  day. 

And  as  he  cantered  homeward  he  could  still  hear 
the  distant  firing  dying  away  in  the  mountains  to 
the  north.  "  Give  'em  hell,  Dean !"  he  muttered 
through  his  set  teeth.  "  They're  showing  fight  even 
when  you've  got  'em  on  the  run.  I  wonder  what 
that  means  ?" 

Not  until  another  day  was  he  to  know.  Late  on 
the  evening  of  the  attack,  while  he  was  seated  with 
his  wife  by  Jake's  bedside,  half  a  dozen  troopers, 
two  of  them  wounded  and  all  with  worn-out  horses, 
came  drifting  back  to  camp.  Twice,  said  they,  had 
the  fleeing  Indians  made  a  stand  to  cover  the  slow 
retreat  of  one  or  two  evidently  sorely  stricken,  but 
so  closely  were  they  pressed  that  at  last  they  had 
been  forced  to  abandon  one  of  their  number,  who 
died,  sending  his  last  vengeful  shot  through  the 
lieutenant's  hunting  shirt,  yet  only  grazing  the 
skin.  Dean,  with  most  of  the  men,  pushed  on  in 
pursuit,  determined  never  to  desist  so  long  as  there 
was  light,  but  these  who  returned  could  not  keep  up, 


90  WARRIOR  GAP, 

Leaving  the  dead  body  of  the  young  brave  where 
it  lay  among  the  rocks,  they  slowly  journeyed  back 
to  camp.  No  further  tidings  came,  and  at  day- 
break  Folsom,  with  two  ranchmen  and  a  trooper, 
rode  out  on  the  trail  to  round  up  the  horses  the 
Indians  had  been  compelled  to  drop.  Mrs.  Hal 
clung  sobbing  to  him,  unable  to  control  her  fears, 
but  he  chided  her  gently  and  bade  her  see  that 
Jake  lacked  no  care  or  comfort.  The  brave  fellow 
was  sore  and  feverish,  but  in  no  great  danger  now. 
Five  miles  out  in  the  foothills  they  came  upon  the 
horses  wandering  placidly  back  to  the  valley,  but 
Folsom  kept  on.  Four  miles  further  he  and  a 
single  ranchman  with  him  came  upon  three  troop 
ers  limping  along  afoot,  their  horses  killed  in  the 
running  fight,  and  one  of  these,  grateful  for  a  long 
pull  at  Folsom's  flask,  turned  back  and  showed 
them  the  body  of  the  fallen  brave.  One  look  was 
enough  for  Hal  and  the  comrade  with  him.  "  Don't 
let  my  wife  know — who  it  was,"  he  had  muttered 
to  his  friend.  "  It  would  only  make  her  more 
nervous."  There  lay  Chaska,  Lizette's  eldest 
brother,  and  well  Hal  Folsom  knew  that  death 
would  never  go  unavenged. 

"  If  ever  a  time  comes  when  I  can  do  you  a  good 
turn,  lieutenant,"  said  he  that  afternoon  as,  worn 
out  with  long  hours  of  pursuit  and  scout,  the  troop 


WARRIOR  GAP.  91 

was  encountered  slowly  marching  back  to  the 
Lararaie,  "I'll  do  it  if  it  costs  me  the  whole 
ranch.''  But  Dean  smiled  and  said  they  wouldn't 
have  missed  that  chance  even  for  the  ranch.  What 
a  blessed  piece  of  luck  it  was  that  the  commanding 
officer  at  Frayne  had  bidden  him  take  that 
route  instead  of  the  direct  road  to  Gate  City  !  He 
had  sent  men  riding  in  to  both  posts  on  the  Platte, 
with  penciled  lines  telling  of  the  Indian  raid  and 
its  results.  Once  well  covered  by  darkness  the 
little  band  had  easily  escaped  their  pursuers,  and 
were  now  safe  across  the  river  and  well  ahead  of 
all  possibility  of  successful  pursuit.  But  if  anything 
were  needed  to  prove  the  real  temper  of  the  Sioux 
the  authorities  had  it.  Now  was  the  time  to 
grapple  that  Ogallalla  tribe  and  bring  it  to  terms 
before  it  could  be  reinforced  by  half  the  young 
men  in 'the  villages  of  the  northern  plains.  The 
Platte,  of  course,  would  be  patrolled  by  a  strong 
force  of  cavalry  for  some  weeks  to  come,  and  no 
new  foray  need  be  dreaded  yet  awhile.  Red  Cloud's 
people  would  "  la}7"  low  "  and  watch  the  effect  of 
this  exploit  before  attempting  another.  If  the 
White  Father  "  got  mad "  and  ordered  "  heap 
soldiers "  there  to  punish  them,  then  they  must 
disavow  all  participation  in  the  affair,  even  though 
one  of  their  best  young  braves  was  prominent  in. 


92  WARRIOR  GAP. 

the  outrage,  and  had  paid  for  the  luxury  with  his 
life — even  though  Burning  Star  was  trying  to  hide 
the  fresh  scar  of  a  rifle  bullet  along  his  upper  arm. 
Together  Dean  and  Folsom  rode  back  to  the  ranch, 
and  another  night  was  spent  there  before  the  troop 
was  sufficiently  rested  to  push  on  to  Emory. 

"  Remember  this,  lieutenant,"  said  Folsom  again, 
as  he  pressed  his  hand  at  parting,  "  there's  nothing 
too  good  for  you  and  "  C  "  Troop  at  my  home.  If 
ever  you  need  a  friend  you'll  find  one  here," 

And  the  time  was  coming  when  Marshall  Dean 
would  need  all  that  he  could  muster. 

Two  days  later — still  a  march  away  from  Emory — 
a  courier  overtook  him  with  a  letter  from  his  late 
post  commander:  "Your  vigorous  pursuit  and 
prompt,  soldierly  action  have  added  to  the  fine  rec 
ord  already  made  and  merit  hearty  commendation." 
The  cordial  words  brought  sunshine  to  his  heart. 
How  proud  Jess  would  be,  and  mother !  He  had 
not  had  a  word  from  either  for  over  a  week.  The 
latter,  though  far  from  strong,  was  content  at  home 
in  the  loving  care  of  her  sister,  and  in  the  hope  that 
he  would  soon  obtain  the  leave  of  absence  so  long 
anticipated,  and,  after  Jess's  brief  visit  to  Pappoose's 
new  home,  would  come  to  gladden  the  eyes  of  kith 
and  kin,  but  mother's  most  of  all,  bringing  Jessie 
with  him.  Little  hope  of  leave  of  absence  was 


WARRlOti  GAP.  93 

there  now,  and  less  was  he  the  man  to  ask  it  with 
such  troubles  looming  up  all  along  the  line  of  fron 
tier  posts  to  the  north.  But  at  least  there  would  be 
the  joy  of  seeing  Jess  in  a  few  days  and  showing 
her  his  troop — her  and  Pappoose.  How  wonder 
fully  that  little  schoolgirl  must  have  grown  and 
developed !  How  beautiful  a  girl  she  must  now  be 
if  that  photograph  was  no  flatterer !  By  the  way, 
where  was  that  photo?  What  had  he  done  with  it? 
For  the  first  time  in  four  days  he  remembered  his 
picking  it  up  when  Mrs.  Hal  Folsom  collapsed  at 
sight  of  Jake's  swooning.  Down  in  the  depths  of 
the  side  pocket  of  his  heavy  blue  flannel  hunting 
shirt  he  found  it,  crumpled  a  bit,  and  all  its  lower 
left-hand  corner  bent  and  blackened  and  crushed, 
Chaska's  last  shot  that  tore  its  way  so  close  below 
the  young  soldier's  bounding  heart,  just  nipping  and 
searing  the  skin,  had  left  its  worst  mark  on  that 
dainty  carte  de  visite.  In  that  same  pocket,  too,  was 
another  packet — a  letter  which  had  been  picked  up 
on  the  floor  of  the  hut  at  Keno  after  Burleigh  left 
— one  for  which  the  major  had  searched  in  vain,  for 
it  was  underneath  a  lot  of  newspapers.  "  You  take 
that  after  him,"  said  the  cantonment  commander,  as 
Dean  followed  with  the  troop  next  day,  and  little 
dreamed  what  it  contained. 

That  very  day,  in  the  heavy,  old-fashioned  sleep 


§4  WAHttiOH  GAP. 

ing-cars  of  the  Union  Pacific,  two  young  girls  were 
seated  in  their  section  on  the  northward  side.  One, 
a  dark-eyed,  radiant  beauty,  gazed  out  over  the  des 
olate  slopes  and  far-reaching  stretches  of  prairie 
and  distant  lines  of  bald  bluff,  with  delight  in  her 
dancing  eyes.  The  other,  a  winsome  maid  of  nine 
teen,  looked  on  with  mild  wonderment,  not  unmixed 
with  disappointment  she  would  gladly  have  hidden. 
To  Elinor  the  scenes  of  her  childhood  were  dear  and 
welcome ;  to  Jessie  there  was  too  much  that  was 
somber,  too  little  that  was  inviting.  But  presently, 
as  the  long  train  rolled  slowly  to  the  platform  of  a 
rude  wooden  station  building,  there  came  a  sight  at 
which  the  eyes  of  both  girls  danced  in  eager  inter 
est — a  row  of  "A"  tents  on  the  open  prairie,  a  long 
line  of  horses  tethered  to  the  picket  ropes,  groups  of 
stalwart,  sunburned  men  in  rough  blue  garb,  a  silken 
guidon  flapping  by  the  tents  of  the  officers.  It  was 
one  of  half  a  dozen  such  camps  of  detached  troops 
they  had  been  passing  ever  since  breakfast  time — 
the  camps  of  isolated  little  commands  guarding  the 
new  railway  on  the  climb  to  Cheyenne.  Papa,  with 
one  or  two  cronies,  was  playing  "  old  sledge "  in 
the  smoking  compartment.  At  a  big  station  a  few 
miles  back  two  men  in  the  uniform  of  officers 
boarded  the  car,  one  of  them  burly,  rotund,  and 
sallow.  He  was  shown  to  the  section  just  in  front 


WAitnion  GAP.  95 

of  the  girls,  and  at  Pappoose  he  stared— stared  long 
and  hard,  so  that  she  bit  her  lip  and  turned  nerv 
ously  away.  The  porter  dusted  the  seat  and  disposed 
of  the  hand  luggage  and  hung  about  the  new  arri 
vals  in  adulation.  The  burly  man  was  evidently  a 
personage  of  importance,  and  his  shoulder  straps 
indicated  that  he  was  a  major  of  the  general  staff. 
The  other,  who  followed  somewhat  diffidently,  was 
a  young  lieutenant  of  infantry,  whose  trim  frock- 
coat  snugly  fitted  his  slender  figure. 

"  Ah,  sit  down  here,  Mr. — Mr.  Loomis,"  suid  the 
major  patronizingly.  "  So  you  are  going  up  to  the 
Big  Horn.  Well,  sir,  I  hope  we  shall  hear  good  ac 
counts  of  you.  There's  a  splendid  field  for  officers 
of  the  right  sort — there — and  opportunities  for  dis 
tinction — every  day." 

At  sound  of  the  staff  officer's  voice  there  roused 
up  from  the  opposite  section,  where  he  had  been 
dozing  over  a  paper,  a  man  of  middle  age,  slim, 
athletic,  with  heavy  mustache  and  imperial,  just 
beginning  to  turn  gray,  with  deep-set  eyes  under 
bushy  brows,  and  a  keen,  shrewd  face,  rather  deeply 
lined.  There  was  a  look  of  dissipation  there,  a 
shade  of  shabbiness  about  his  clothes,  a  rakish  cut 
to  the  entire  personality  that  had  caused  Folsom  to 
glance  distrustfully  at  him  more  than  once  the 
previous  afternoon,  and  to  meet  with  coldness  the 


06  WARRIOR  GAP. 

ten  tali  ves  permissible  in  fellow  travelers.  The 
stranger's  morning  had  been  lonesome.  JNow  he 
held  his  newspaper  where  it  would  partly  shield 
his  face,  yet  permit  his  watching  the  officers  across 
the  aisle.  And  something  in  his  stealthy  scrutiny 
attracted  Pappoose. 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  major,  "  I  have  seen  a  great 
deal  of  that  country,  and  Mr.  Dean,  of  whom  you 
spoke,  was  attached  to  the  troop  escorting  our  com 
mission.  He  is  hardly — I  regret  to  have  to  say  it 
— er — what  }7ou  imagine.  We  were,  to  put  it 
mildly,  much  disappointed  in  his  conduct  the  day  of 
our  meeting  with  the  Sioux." 

A  swift,  surprised  glance  passed  between  the 
girls,  a  pained  look  shot  into  the  lieutenant's  face, 
but  before  the  major  could  go  on  the  man  across  the 
aisle  arose  and  bent  over  him  with  extended  hand. 

"  Ah,  Burleigh,  I  thought  I  knew  the  voice." 
But  the  hand  was  not  grasped.  The  major  was 
drawing  back,  his  face  growing  yellow-white  with 
some  strange  dismay. 

"  You  don't  seem  sure  of  my  identity.  Let  me 
refresh  your  memory,  Burleigh.  I  am  Captain 
Newhall.  1  see  you  need  a  drink,  major — 111  take 
one  with  you." 


9? 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FOR  nearly  a  week  after  the  home-coming  of  his 
beloved  daughter  John  Folsom  was  too  happy  in 
her  presence  to  give  much  thought  to  other  matters. 
By  the  end  of  that  week,  however,  the  honest  old 
Westerner  found  anxieties  thickening  about  him. 
There  were  forty-eight  hours  of  undimmed  rejoicing. 
Elinor  was  so  radiant,  co  fond,  and  had  grown,  so 
said  the  proud  father  to  himself,  and  so  said  others, 
so  wondrously  lovely.  His  eyes  followed  her  every 
movement.  He  found  himself  negligent  of  her 
gentle  little  friend  and  guest,  Jessie  Dean,  to  whom 
he  had  vowed  to  be  a  second  father,  and  such  a 
friend  as  she  had  been  to  his  Pappoose  when,  a 
homesick,  sad-eyed  child,  she  entered  upon  her 
schooldays.  Elinor  herself  had  to  chide  him,  and 
with  contrition  and  dismay  he  admitted  his  fault, 
and  then  for  hours  nothing  could  exceed  his  hospit 
able  attentions  to  Jessie,  who,  sorely  disappointed 
because  Marshall  was  not  there  to  meet  her,  was 
growing  anxious  as  no  tidings  came  from  him.  Two 


9£  WARRIOR  GAP. 

whole  days  the  damsels  spent  in  going  over  the  neW1 
house,  exclaiming  over  papa's  lavish  preparations, 
but  wishing  presently  that  Mrs.  Fletcher  were  not 
quite  so  much  in  evidence,  here,  there,  and  every 
where.  Only  when  bedtime  came  and  they  could 
nestle  in  one  or  other  of  their  connecting  rooms 
were  they  secure  from  interruption,  and  even  then 
it  presently  appeared  they  could  not  talk  confiden 
tially  as  of  old.  Folsom  had  taken  them  driving 
each  afternoon,  he  himself  handling  the  reins  over 
his  handsome  bays,  Elinor  at  his  side  the  first  time, 
and  Jessie,  with  Mrs.  Fletcher,  occupying  the  rear 
seat.  But  this,  Elinor  whispered  to  him,  was  not 
as  it  should  be.  Her  guest  should  have  the  seat  of 
honor.  So,  next  day,  Jessie  was  handed  to  the 
front  and  Mrs.  Fletcher  and  Pappoose  were  placed  in 
rear,  and  in  this  order  they  bowled  round  the  fort 
and  listened  to  the  band  and  talked  with  several  of 
tha  women  and  one  or  two  officers,  but  these  latter 
could  tell  nothing  about  Lieutenant  Dean  except 
that  they  had  been  expecting  him  for  two  days — he 
having  taken  tne  long  way  home,  which  both  Jessie 
and  Pappoose  considered  odd  under  the  circum 
stances,  though  neither  said  so  and  nobody  thought 
to  explain.  But  the  morning  of  the  third  day 
"  Miss  Folsom  " — as  the  veteran  was  amazed  to  hear 
his  daughter  addressed,  yet  on  reflection  concluded 


WARRIOti  GAP.  99 

that  he'd  be  tempted  to  kick  any  man  who  addressed 
her  otherwise — seized  a  favorable  opportunity  and 
whisked  her  fond  father  into  a  corner  of  his  library, 
and  there  gave  him  to  understand  that  in  Eastern 
circles  the  housekeeper  might  sometimes,  perhaps, 
accompany  the  young  ladies  when  they  were  going 
shopping,  or  the  like,  alone,  but  that  when  escorted 
by  papa  it  was  quite  unnecessary.  It  was  in  fact  not 
at  all  conventional. 

"  Bless  my  soul  1"  said  Folsom.  "  I  supposed 
that  was  what  she  was  for.  What  did  these  women 
mean  by  telling  me  I  must  have  a,  companion — a 
guide — etc.?" 

"  They  meant,  you  blessed  Daddy,  that  they 
wished  to  provide  you  with — one  of  their  number, 
and  me — with  something  I  do  not  want.  If  Mrs. 
Fletcher  is  to  be  housekeeper  I  have  nothing  to  say, 
but — don't  you  think  your  big  daughter  old  enough 
and  wise  enough  to  select  her  own  companions? 
Daddy  dear,"  she  continued,  after  a  little  pause,  and 
nestling  close  to  him  with  a  pathetic  look  in  the  big 
brown  eyes,  her  lips  twitching  a  bit,  "  I  know  how 
loving  and  thoughtful  you  have  been  in  all  this,  and 
I  wouldn't  have  you  think  me  ungrateful,  but — did 
you  believe  I  was  always  going  to  be  a  little  girl  ? 
What  do  you  suppose  I  studied  housekeeping  for  at 
school  ?  Mrs.  Fletcher  is  engaged,  I  presume,  and 


100  WAHHIOR  GAP. 

I  can't  ask  you  to  undo  that  now,  but  I  wish  you 
had  written  to  me  first.  However,  if  you  don't 
mind,  there's  somebody  I'd  rather  you  would  ^nvite 
to  take  the  fourth  seat  to-day,  and  then  you  can 
have  Pappoose  beside  you,  if  you  wish." 

"  Why,  of  course,  sweetheart,  any  one  you  like." 

"  Lieutenant  Loo  mis,  then,  Daddy — the  officer  we 
met  on  the  train.  Jessie  likes  him  and  he's  such  a 
friend  of  her  brother — the  only  one  we  have  yet 
seen  who  seems  to  know  him  at  all.  Then  you 
could  ask  him  to  dinner,  too." 

Folsom's  face  was  a  study.  Doubt  and  perplexity 
both  were  twitching  in  the  little  muscles  about  his 
lips. 

"  We  met  three  officers,  did  we  net,  Elinor,  and  I 
had  thought — somewhat  of — asking  the  major  and 
his  guest.  He  said  he  wished  to  calL  He  was  here 
while  we  were  driving  yesterday.  I  met  him 
later." 

"  Yes,  I  saw  his  card,"  was  the  hurried,  indifferent 
answer.  "  But  they  are  not  like  Mr,  Loomis.  Daddy, 
I  did  not  at  all  like  that  Captain  Newhall>  or — 
for  that  matter " 

"  They  both  seemed  prodigiously  struck  with 
you,"  said  Folsom,  in  misguided  confidence  yet  par 
donable  pride.  "  They've  donf,  nothing  but  talk  to 
me  about  you  ever  since." 


WARRIOR  GAP.  101 

"  They  did  nothing  but  tajk:  fa>  me  all  the,  way 
over  the  mountains,  except,  when'  they*  were  'out 
taking  what  I  have  reason',  ^to/^elieVa'  vjrasj  Hti'iX&'Ji*^ 
sional  drink,  Daddy  mine.  Jess  had  Mr.  Loomis  to 
herself.  They  have  found  your  weak  spot,  Daddy. 
They  know  you  love  to  talk  of  your  daughter.  You 
have  only  known  Major  Buiieigh  a  little  while,  is  it 
not  so  ?" 

"  Only  within  the  year,  perhaps,  though  of  course 
I've  heard  of  him  a  great  deal." 

"  And  this  Captain  Newhall,  whose  regiment  is 
in  Louisiana  while  he's  out  here  on  leave — I  thought 
officers  went  East  when  they  got  leave." 

"  Newhall  says  he's  out  here  looking  over  some 
mining  schemes.  He  has  money  to  invest,  I  be 
lieve." 

"  He  should  invest  some  money  in  a  traveling 
suit,  Daddy  dear.  That  coat  and  his  linen  seemed 
wofully  out  of  condition.  Gentlemen  are  not  care 
less  about  such  matters.3' 

"  Oh,  he  explained  that  his  trunks  were  delayed 
in  Omaha  or  somewhere,  and  were  coming  along 
next  train.  I  own  I  was  prejudiced  against  him, 
too,  but  of  course  if  he's  a  friend  and  guest  of  Bur- 
leigh's  he — he  must  be  all  right.  He's  staying  with 
him  at  the  depot." 

"  And  you've  got  to  invite  them  to  dinner  ?"  asked 


102  WARRIOR  GAP. 

Miser  J^olsom,-  .\fte-r  another  pause,  during  which  she 
had  been.  .thii?  king  deeply. 

"•  Itot-  if  you  don't  Ararft  it,  pet.  Of  course  they'll 
expect  it.  Army  officers  are  hospitable,  you  know, 
Burleigh  has  asked  me  to  dine  with  him  a  dozen 
times,  though  I've  only  been  there  once." 

"  Then  you'll  have  to  invite  him,  Daddy,"  was 
the  answer,  with  quick  decision.  "  Only,  just  wait 
for  a  day  or  two.  Captain  Xewhall  was  going 
right  out  to  the  mines,  he  said,  and  there  may  be 
others  we'd  be  glad  to  have.  Jessie's  brother  ought 
to  be  here  any  hour." 

"  Yes,"  said  Folsom  dubiously.  "  I've  been 
thinking  about  him — I've  been  wishing " 

But  he  hesitated  and  faltered  and  could  not  meet 
the  deep  brown  eyes,  so  full  of  searching  inquiry 
and  keen  intelligence. 

"You've  been  thinking — what,  Daddy?"  she 
asked,  and  now  her  slender  hands  were  on  his 
shoulders  and  she  was  turning  him  so  that  she 
could  study  his  face.  "  You  have  been  hearing 
something  you  do  not  wish  us  to  know,  Daddy 
dear.  I  heard  Major  Burleigh  say  something  to 
Mr,  Loomis  about — about  Lieutenant  Dean,  and  I 
know  Mr.  Loomis  did  not  like  it,  and  Jessie  and  I 
can't  believe  it.  Father,  where  is  he?  Why  doesn't 
he  come  ?  Why  do  these — these  people  at  the  fort 


WARRIOR  GAP.  103 

hem  and  haw  and  hesitate  when  they  speak  about 
him  ?  Jessie  is  getting  so  troubled." 

"  Fm  getting  troubled,  daughter,"  answered 
Folsom  impulsively.  "  I  never  met  a  likelier 
young  fellow  or  one  that  promised  to  make  a 
better  officer.  He  may  be  all  right,  too,  only  it  isn't 
so  much  what  they  do  say  as  what  they  don't  say 
that  troubles  me.  Burleigh  here  and  old  Stevens 
out  at  the  fort  and  one  or  two  others  I've  asked 
about  him.  Burleigh  says  he  ''lost  his  nerve'  when 
they  met  Ked  Cloud's  big  band.  A  boy  might  be 
excused  for  that  so  long  as  he  didn't  misbehave.  It 
was  big  responsibility  for  a  young  lieutenant.  But 
these  people,  as  you  speak  of  them  out  at  the  fort, 
really  know  very  little  about  Dean.  Burleigh  says 
he's  in  a  position  that  enables  him  to  know  so  much 
more  about  the  character  and  habits  of  the  young 
officers." 

"  Surely  he  can  say  nothing  against  Mr.  Dean!" 
exclaimed  Pappoose,  looking  up  with  quick  indig 
nation  in  her  brown  eyes.  "  ISTo  one  knows  how 
good  and  generous  he  has  been  to  Jessie  and  his 
mother." 

They  were  standing  at  the  moment  in  the  corner 
of  the  library  farthest  from  the  doorway.  The 
front  windows  opened  to  the  north,  giving  a  fine 
of  the  rolling  hills  rising  higher  and  higher 


104.  WARRIOR  GAP. 

and  looking  down  upon  the  grass-grown  slopes 
spread  out  at  their  feet,  criss-crossed  and  traversed 
by  hard-beaten  roads  and  trails.  Immediately  in 
front  of  the  house  Folsom  had  seeded  and  watered 
and  coaxed  into  semblance  of  a  lawn  the  best  turf 
to  be  had  in  that  section  of  Wyoming,  and  inclosed 
it  in  a  spick  and  span  white  picket  fence.  The 
main  road  between  the  fort  and  the  railway  station 
passed  directly  in  front  of  his  gate.  The  side  win 
dow  of  the  cozy  room  looked  out  to  the  west 
over  the  valley  of  a  rushing  stream,  once  rich  in 
trout,  but  now  much  infested  by  the  mules  from 
Burleigh's  corral,  which  lay  half  a  mile  away  to 
the  southeast,  out  of  sight  of  Folsom's  house  except 
from  the  upper  windows.  Eager  to  stock  the 
library  with  standard  works  against  his  daughter's 
coming,  the  old  trader  had  consulted  a  friend  among 
the  officers  and  had  sent  a  lavish  order  to  a  house 
in  Chicago.  Books,  therefore,  were  there  in  plenty 
on  the  handsome  shelves,  and  they  were  not  ill- 
chosen  either,  but  it  was  Mrs.  Fletcher  who  pointed 
out  how  stiff  and  angular  everything  looked,  who 
introduced  the  easy  lounge,  the  soft  rugs,  the  heavy 
hanging  portieres  of  costly  Navajo  blankets.  It  was 
her  deft  touch  that  draped  the  curtains  at  the  win 
dows  and  softened  and  beautified  the  lines  the  hand 
of  man  would  have  left  crude  and  repellent.  And 


WARRIOR  GAP.  105 

that  library  had  been  her  favorite  haunt ;  but  since 
the  coming  of  the  girls  Mrs.  Fletcher  had  seemed  to 
retire  to  her  own  room  aloft,  and  to  spend  no  time 
below  stairs  that  was  not  demanded  by  her  house 
hold  duties.  Now  as  the  father  and  daughter  were 
talking  earnestly  together,  they  heard  Mrs.  Fletcher 
moving  about  overhead  as  though  looking  over  the 
work  of  the  housemaid.  Jessie  had  gone  to  her 
own  room  to  write  a  short  letter  to  her  mother. 
Major  Burleigh  was  to  come  at  10.30  to  drive  them 
out  to  Pinnacle  Butte,  a  sharp,  rocky  height  far 
across  the  valley,  from  the  summit  of  which  a  won 
derful  view  was  to  be  obtained.  It  lacked  but  five 
minutes  of  the  time  and  suddenly  Mrs.  Fletcher's 
voice  was  heard  on  the  floor  above.  It  was  a  well- 
modulated  voice,  gentle  and  controlled,  with  a 
clear,  vibrant  ring  in  it  that  made  the  words  dis 
tinctly  audible  to  the  hearers  below. 

"  The  major's  carriage  is  coming  up  the  street, 
Miss  Dean.  There  are  two  officers." 

"  Two !"  exclaimed  Jess,  starting  to  her  feet, 
thinking  only  of  her  brother.  "  Oh !  I  wonder 
if — "  And  then  they  heard  her  go  pit-a-pat 
through  the  hall  to  the  front  of  the  house,  heard 
Mrs.  Fletcher  more  deliberately  follow,  heard 
presently  the  beat  of  horses'  hoofs  on  the  hard  road 
way,  and  the  whir  of  coming  wheels.  "I'll  go  out 


IOC  WARRIOR  GAP. 

to  meet  them,  Elinor — I'll — I'll  talk  to  you  more 
about  this  some  other  time.  You  don't  care  to 
go  on  this  ride  this  morning  one  bit,  do  you  dear?'-* 
he  added  uneasily. 

"No,  father;  frankly,  I  don't — but  he  has  been 
polite  to  you  and  attentive  to  us.  There's  no  help 
for  it." 

And  so  Folsom  went  alone  to  the  door  to  meet 
his  visitors  on  the  porch  without,  and  did  not  hear, 
did  not  see  Mrs.  Fletcher,  who  came  hastily  down 
the  stairs,  her  face  singularly  pale,  a  glitter  of  excite 
ment  in  her  eyes.  On  tiptoe  she  hastened  along  the 
broad  hall,  reaching  the  library  door  just  as  Folsom 
stepped  out  on  the  porch.  On  tiptoe  she  darted  in. 
closed  the  door  behind  her,  almost  rushed  to  the 
north  window,  and  there  grasping  the  curtain 
she  crouched,  heedless  of  the  possibility  of  ob 
servation,  and  for  half  a  minute  clung  and  crouched 
and  stared.  Then,  as  Folsom's  genial,  powerful 
voice  was  heard  in  welcoming  accents,  and  heavy 
footsteps  came  along  the  broad  board  walk,  the 
woman  straightened  suddenly  and,  noiseless  as  be 
fore,  hurried  back  across  the  room  and  came 
face  to  face  with  the  daughter  of  the  house, 

"Oh,  Miss  Folsom!"  she  faltered,  her  bosom 
heaving  in  violent  agitation.  "  I  did  not  know  you 


WARRIOR  OAr.  lU7 

were  here,  i — excuse  me — "  and  hastened  out  of 
the  room  and  up  the  winding  stairs. 

"  Pappoose "  never  hesitated.  Coolly,  quickly, 
she  stepped  to  the  window.  Major  Burleigh  had 
just  reached  the  top  step  and  was  exchanging  greet 
ing  with  his  host.  The  stylish  team  and  glistening 
wagon  were  just  spinning  away. 

"It'll  be  back  in  five  minutes,"  she  heard  the 
quartermaster  explain  to  her  father.  "Newhall 
has  to  meet  come  people  coming  in  by  stage  from 
Green  River.  I  thought  I'd  rather  spend  the  time 
here." 

And  on  the  back  seat,  affably  waving  his  hand 
in  adieu,  and  jauntily  lifting  his  rakish  forage  cap 
in  salutation  general  to  any  of  the  young  ladies 
who  might  be  watching,  sat  the  gentleman  whose 
regiment  was  in  Louisiana  while  he  was  up  here  of 
leave  looking  after  mining  investments. 


108  WARRIOR  QAP. 


CHAPTEK  X. 

"  THREE  mortal  hours,"  said  Miss  Folsom  to  her 
fond  little  school  friend  and  chum  that  afternoon, 
'*  have  I  had  to  sit  or  stroll  with  or  listen  to  Major 
Burleigh.  I  never  once  was  able  to  enjoy  the  view. 
What  made  him  hurry  us  away  from  the  northeast 
point,  do  you  suppose?" 

"  Did  you  notice  that,  Nell  ?  I  did,  too,  and  I 
was  so  interested  in  the  view.  Away  up  toward  Lar- 
amie  Peak  I  could  see  something  through  the  glasses 
that  looked  like  a  lot  of  little  ants  crawling  along 
together.  It  was  just  after  that — just  after  we  looked 
through  the  glass,  that  he  marched  us  round  to  the 
other  side.  The  view  toward  Green  River  isn't 
half  as  pretty." 

"And  now  he's  telling  some  interminable  story  to 
father  over  their  cigars.  What  shall  we  do  if  he 
hangs  on?  Father  will  have  to  ask  him  to  drive 
with  us  to  the  fort,  and  there  won't  be  room." 

"  Unless  Mrs.  Fletcher  gives  up  her  seat,"  said 
Jessie  demurely. 


GAP.  loo 

"Mrs.  Fletcher  isn't  going.  A  very  different 
person  takes  her  seat  to-day,  Jess.  Father  left  a 
note  for  Mr.  Loomis  at  the  hotel  and  he  accepted. 
Now  you  see  whj7  I  don't  want  Major  Burleigh." 

It  was  then  long  after  three  o'clock.  At  five 
they  were  to  start  and  Jessie  could  hardly  curb  her 
impatience.  The  mail  from  Frayne,  so  said  Folsom, 
would  arrive  that  evening,  and  then  surely  there 
would  be  news  of  Marshall.  They  had  slipped 
away  to  their  rooms  after  the  bountiful  luncheon 
served  on  their  return,  in  order,  as  "  Pappoose  "  ex 
pressed  it,  that  the  gentlemen  might  have  their 
cigars  in  peace.  Mrs.  Fletcher,  after  seeing  that 
everything  was  prepared,  had  directed  the  servant 
to  say  to  Mr.  Folsom,  on  the  return  of  the  party, 
that  she  would  prefer  not  to  appear,  and  would  be 
glad  to  keep  her  room,  as  she  did  not  feel  it  at  all 
necessary  for  the  housekeeper  to  meet  strangers,  and 
Folsom  felt  a  sense  of  relief.  It  was  so  much  sweeter 
not  to  have  any  presiding  genius  other  than  Pappoose, 
not  that  he  was  forgetful  of  Mrs.  Fletcher's  merits 
and  services — which  were  great — but  it  was  plain 
to  see  that  his  daughter  would  have  been  happier 
had  no  such  office  existed  as  that  created  for  this 
deserving  and  destitute  widow.  At  three  Miss  Fol 
som  had  gone  and  tapped  at  the  lady's  door — her 
room  was  in  the  third  story  overlooking  the  street — 


HO  WAtlRIOR  GAP 

and  was  very  civilly  assured  that  Mrs.  Fletcher 
stood  in  need  of  nothing,  but,  being  wearied,  she 
would  like  a  little  sleep.  No,  she  did  not  even  care 
for  a  cup  of  tea.  Yet  Elinor  felt  confident  that  the 
voice  that  replied  to  her  inquiries  came  neither  from 
the  bed  nor  the  lounge,  but  from  the  direction  of 
the  front  window. 

At  three  the  cigars  were  smoked  out  and  the  host 
and  his  guest  were  in  the  library.  It  was  Folsom's 
custom,  when  a  possible  thing,  to  take  a  brief  nap 
after  the  midday  meal,  and  Elinor  felt  sure  he  would 
be  glad  of  the  opportunity  now,  if  Burleigh  would 
only  go,  but  Burleigh  wouldn't.  In  monotonous 
monologue  his  voice  came  floating  up  to  the  second 
floor,  drowsy,  unbroken  in  its  soporific  flow,  and 
the  girls  themselves,  after  the  morning's  drive  in 
the  clear,  bracing  air,  felt  as  though  forty  winks 
would  be  a  blessing.  Could  it  be  that  Burleigh 
lingered  on  in  hopes  of  their  reappearance  below? 
Might  it  not  be  that  if  relief  came  not  speedily  Papa 
Folsorn  would  yield  to  the  spell  and  fall  asleep  in 
his  easy-chair?  Was  it  not  Miss  Folsom's  duty  to 
descend  and  take  the  burden  of  entertainment  off 
those  elder  shoulders  ?  These  thoughts  oppressed 
the  girl,  and  starting  up,  she  cried : 

"  It's  simply  wicked  of  me  staying  here  and  let 
ting  poor  papa  be  bored  to  death.  Do  come  down, 


WARRIOR  GAP.  in 

Jess,  dear,  unless  you're  dreadfully  sleepy.  He  acts 
just  as  though  he  intended  never  to  go." 

And  Jess  promised  reluctantly  to  come  down  in 
ten  minutes,  if  he  didn't  leave;  but  she  hated  him, 
and  had  hated  him  ever  since  he  spoke  so  of  Marshall 
in  the  car  three  days  before. 

The  upper  hall  had  been  quite  dark  when  Miss 
Folsom  went  up  to  inquire  how  Mrs.  Fletcher  was 
just  after  luncheon.  The  door  to  her  little  room 
was  tightly  closed.  The  blinds  in  all  the  other 
rooms  aloft  were  drawn  against  the  glare  of  the 
sunshine  in  the  cloudless  atmosphere;  yet  now,  as 
Pappoose  stepped  suddenly  out  upon  the  landing, 
she  was  surprised  to  see  that  the  upper  floor  was 
much  lighter  than  when  she  went  up  half  an  hour 
earlier.  The  maid  had  not  gone  thither  from  the 
kitchen,  and  Mrs.  Fletcher  wished  to  doze.  Who, 
then,  could  have  opened  both  blind  and  door  and  let 
in  that  flood  of  light?  Impulsively  the  active  girl 
flew  up  the  winding  stairs  to  the  third  story,  and 
some  one  suddenly  withdrew  from  the  balcony  rail, 
and  an  instant  later,  as  Miss  Folsom  reached  the 
top,  all  became  dark  again.  Mrs.  Fletcher's  door 
had  unquestionably  been  open,  and  was  now  shut 
to.  She  must  have  been  out  there  listening,  and 
gravely  the  young  girl  asked  herself  what  it  meant 
—Mrs.  Fletcher's  agitation  in  the  library  that  morn- 


GAP. 


ing  as  she  peered  out  at  the  major's  wagon  ;  her 
absence  from  luncheon  on  account,  as  she  pleaded, 
of  not  desiring  to  appear  when  company  was  pres 
ent  ;  and  now,  despite  her  desire  to  sleep,  her  vigil 
at  the  third-floor  landing,  where  she  was  surely 
listening  to  the  sounds  from  below. 

Pondering  over  the  facts,  Elinor  Folsom  slowly 
retraced  her  steps  and  went  downstairs.  She 
reached  the  library  none  too  soon.  Old  John's  eyes 
wrere  closed,  and  he  was  slowly  toppling,  over 
come  with  sleep.  The  sound  of  her  cheery  voice 
aroused  him,  and  he  started,  guilty  and  crestfallen. 

Burleigh's  heavy  face  brightened  visibly  at  her 
coming.  He  cared  no  more  for  music  than  does  a 
cat,  but  eagerly  followed  her  across  the  broad  hall 
into  the  parlor  when  she  suggested  showing  him 
the  beautiful  piano  papa  had  given  her;  and  old 
John,  blessing  her,  lurched  for  the  sofa,  buried  his 
hot  head  in  a  pillow,  and  was  asleep  in  ten  seconds. 
Major  Burleigh  was  alone  with  the  lovely  daughter 
of  the  veteran  trader.  He  was  a  man  of  the  world  ; 
she  an  unsophisticated  girl  just  out  of  school  —  so 
said  Burleigh,  albeit  a  most  charming  one  ;  and  he, 
who  had  monopolized  her  time  the  entire  morning, 
bore  down  once  more  upon  his  prize. 

She  had  seated  herself  at  the  piano,  and  her  long, 
taper  fingers  were  rippling  over  the  keys.  She 


GAP. 


knew  full  well  he  did  not  care  what  she  played,  and 
as  for  herself  she  did  not  care  just  then  to  play  at 
all.  She  was  thinking  of  his  insinuation  at  Marshall 
Dean's  expense.  She  was  still  pondering  over  Mrs, 
Fletcher's  stealthy  scrutiny  of  the  quartermaster's 
team.  On  these  two  accounts,  and  no  other,  he  was 
possessed  of  certain  interest  in  Elinors  dark-brown 
eyes,  and  they  were  studying  him  coolly,  search- 
ingly,  as  he  drew  a  chair  near  the  piano  stool,  and 
seated  himself  and  met  her  look  with  a  broad,  en 
couraging  smile. 

Trill  and  ripple,  ripple  and  trill  her  white  fingers 
raced  over  the  keyboard. 

"  I'm  sure  you  know  this  waltz,  major,"  she  was 
saying.  "  They  played  it  beautifully  at  the  Point 
two  summers  ago," 

"  I  —  ah,  yes,  if  s  a  charming  composition  —  charm- 
ing,  though  I  don't  recall  it's  name  just  now." 

"  This  ?  why  it's  one  of  Godfrey's—4  The  Hilda,' 
don't  you  know  ?  I'm  sure  you  waltz,  major." 

"  I  —  ah,  used  to,  yes.  I  was  very  fond  of  a 
waltz,"  answered  Burleigh,  whose  best  efforts  in 
that  line  could  result  in  nothing  better  than  a 
waddle.  "But  of  late  years  I  —  I  —  since  my  be 
reavement  —  have  practically  withdrawn  from 
society."  Then,  with  a  languishing  smile,  he  added, 
"  I  shall  be  tempted  to  re-enter  the  list  now,"  and 


1U  WAHHIOR  GAP. 

the  major  drew  his  chair  nearer  by  full  an  inch, 
and  prepared  to  be  further  "  killing." 

"  Jessie  dances  divinely,"  said  Miss  Folsom.  "  She 
simply  floats  round  a  room.  You  should  see  her 
waltz  with  her  brother.  Major  Burleigh.  They 
might  be  waltzing  here  this  very  minute  if  he  were 
only  home.  AVhat  can  have  detained  him,  do  you 
think  ?" 

"  I  wish  I  knew,"  said  the  quartermaster  slowly. 
"It  makes  those  who  are — ah — his  friends,  you 
know,  anxious  in  more  ways  than  one,  because 
there  is— er — nothing  to  warrant  delay — nothing  to 
— excuse  it.  He  should,  in  fact,  have  been  at  his  post, 
where  his  troop  is  sorely  needed,  full  four  days  ago," 
and  Burleigh  looked  heavy  with  portent. 

"  Is  it  not  possible  that  he  has  found  something 
along  the  lower  Laramie — something  where  his 
troop  is  needed  much  more  than  here  doing  stable 
guard?" 

"  How  can  it  be  possible  ?"  said  Burleigh.  "  The 
only  thing  to  warrant  his  delay  would  be  Indians, 
and  there  are  none  south  of  the  Platte ;  or  horse 
thieves,  and  they  hung  the  last  of  the  gang  three 
months  ago.  Mr.  Dean,  I — ah — regret  to  say,  is 
fonder  of  fishing  and  hunting  than  of  his  legitimate 
duties,  and  this,  I  fear,  is  why  he  is  not  here  to 
welcome  his  sister  " 


WARRtOH  GAP.  115 

The  piano  went  rippling  on,  but  the  brown  eyes 
kept  up  their  steady  gaze.  In  the  deep  bass  chords 
now  her  slender  fingers  were  entangled.  Slowly 
and  thoughtfully  the  rich  melody  swung  in  the 
proud  waltz  rythm  through  the  airy  room  and 
floated  out  upon  the  summer  breeze.  A  little  line 
was  setting  deep  between  the  dark,  arching  eye 
brows,  a  symptom  Pappoose's  schoolmates  had 
learned  to  note  as  a  signal  for  danger,  but  Burleigh 
knew  her  not,  as  yet 

"  It  is  odd,"  said  she  dreamily,  "  that  at  the  Point 
the  officers  spoke  so  highly  of  Mr.  Dean,  and  here 
you  seem  to  think  so  differently  of  him.  It  is  a 
deep  disappointment  to  his  sister  that  he  is  not 
here;  but,  do  you  know,  major,  we  were  saying 
only  this  morning  before  you  came  that  there  was 
some  excellent  reason  for  his  delay,  and  we'd  know 
it  within  another  day." 

"Oh,  ah — er — of  course  I  hope  so.  I  think,  pardon 
me,  that  that  must  be  a  messenger  from  my  office 
now,"  for  spurred  boot-heels  were  coming  briskly 
up  the  wooden  walk.  There  was  a  bounding  step 
on  the  piazza,  a  ring  at  the  bell.  The  servant  bustled 
through  the  hall  and  threw  open  the  door.  It  was 
not  a  messenger  from  the  depot,  but  a  stalwart, 
sunburnt  man  in  rough  ranch  garb,  who  whipped 


116  WAI&10&  SAP. 

off  his  broad-brimmed  hat  and  stood  abashed  within 
the  hall  as  he  asked  for  Mr.  Folsom. 

And  all  of  a  sudden  over  went  the  piano-stool 
with  a  crash,  and  out  into  the  hall,  joyous,  bound 
ing,  light  as  a  fairy,  a  vision  of  dark,  girlish  beauty, 
went  Pappoose. 

"  Why,  Ned  Lannion !"  she  cried,  as  she  seized 
the  swarthy  young  fellow's  hands  and  shook  them 
up  and  down  "  Don't  you  know  me — Winona  that 
used  to  be?  Why,  how  well  you  look  !  When  did 
you  leave  the  ranch  ?  How  did  you  leave  them  ? 
Is  Hal  here — or  coming  ?" 

And  at  sound  of  her  voice  old  Folsom  had  started 
up  from  his  sofa  and  came  trotting  out  into  the 
hall,  just  roused  from  his  sleep,  and  blinking  a  bit 
as  he,  too,  held  forth  cordial,  welcoming  hands.  It 
was  a  moment  before  they  could  let  Ned  tell  his 
story,  and  then  it  came  by  jerks. 

"We  left  there  early  yesterday  morning,  mum. 
They're  all  well  now,  'cept  Jake,  and  he'll  come  out 
all  right,  but  we  had  a  close  call.  A  war  party  of 
Sioux  jumped  us  Wednesday  afternoon,  and  they'd 
a  got  away  with  us  but  for  Lieutenant  Dean  and 
his  troop.  They  come  along  just  in  time " 

"  Ned !"  gasped  Elinor,  "  you  don't  mean  they 
attacked  the  ranch  ?" 

"No'me.    We  was  down  the  Lar'mie— rounding 


WARRIOR  GAP,  117 

up  horses.  There  was  a  dozen  bucks  in  the  party. 
It's  the  first  time  they've  come  across  in  a  year 
that  I  know  of,  and  they  won't  be  apt  to  try  it 
again.  We  shot  two  of  'em  and  the  cavalry  drove 
'em  a  running  fight,  so  hard  that  they  had  to  leave 
one  of  their  wounded  behind  them.  He  died  in  a 
minute.  It  was — "  and  then  Ned  Lannion  gulped 
and  stumbled  and  choked  in  embarrassment. 

"Who  was  it?''  demanded  Mr.  Folsoin,  his 
rugged  face  pale  and  twitching,  his  eyes  full  of 
anxiety. 

"  Chaska,  sir.     You  know." 

Folsom  gripped  him  by  the  shoulder.  "And  Burn 
ing  Star — did  you  see  him  ?  Was  he  there  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  those  boys  of  Lieutenant  Dean's 
gave  them  a  lickin'  they'll  never  forget.  The  ranch 
is  safe  as  if  it  was  here  in  Gate  City,  only  Hal  he 
couldn't  come  himself,  and  he  knowed  you'd  be 
anxious  for  full  particulars,  so  he  sent  me  in  with 
the  cavalry.  They're  out  at  the  fort  now." 

"  Jessie  !"  cried  Elinor,  in  delight  that  overmas 
tered  the  emotion  with  which  she  had  listened  to 
the  tale  of  her  brother's  recent  peril.  Marshall's 
here — almost  home.  It's  just  as  we  said,  Jess.  Do 
come  down.  He  was  there  just  in  time  to  save  my 
brother's  life — to  drive  the  Indians  back  to  the 
river.  Come  quick — I  want  to  hug  you  I"  And 


118  WARRIOR  GAP. 

her  dark  ejes,  flashing  with  joy  and  excitement^ 
danced  full  upon  the  bulky  form  of  the  major, 
slowly  issuing  from  the  parlor  door,  then  beyond 
as  she  went  bounding  by  him,  all  eagerness  to  clasp 
her  bonny  friend  in  her  arms,  and  shower  her  with 
congratulations.  And  so  it  happened  that  both 
the  girls  were  at  the  rear  of  the  hall  entwined  in 
each  other's  arms  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs  when 
the  ranchman  answered  Folsom's  next  question,  and 
then  broke  out  with  the  abrupt  announcement,  "I 
never  see  a  young  officer  handle  his  men  better. 
We'd  all  been  in  hell  by  this  time  if  it  wasn't  for 
him,  yet,  by  God,  sir,  the  moment  he  got  into  the 
post  they  clapoed  him  in  arrest," 


WARRIOR  GAP.  H9 


CHAPTER  XL 

THAT  evening,  when  John  Folsom,  half  an  hour 
earlier  than  the  stipulated  time,  drove  the  girls  and 
their  friend,  Lieutenant  Loomis,  out  to  the  fort, 
Major  Burleigh  was  left  to  his  own  devices,  and  his 
face  plainly  showed  that  he  was  far  from  pleased 
with  the  way  things  were  going.  The  news  that 
Marshall  Dean  had  been  placed  in  arrest  by  order 
of  the  commanding  officer  of  Fort  Emory,  following 
as  it  did  close  on  the  heels  of  the  tidings  of  that 
young  officer's  prompt  and  soldierly  handling  of 
the  crisis  at  the  ranch,  made  Folsom  boil  over  with 
wrath.  His  first  word  was  one  of  caution,  however. 
"  Hush  !"  he  said,  "  Speak  low.  Yonder  stands 
his  sister.  The  girls  must  not  know  yet."  Then, 
leading  the  way  into  the  library  and  closing  the 
door  behind  them,  he  demanded  all  particulars 
Lannion  could  give  him,  which  were  few  enough. 

"The  lieutenant  halted  the  troop  outside  the 
post,"  said  the  indignant  ranchman,  "had  it  dis 
mount  there  while  he  rode  on  in  to  report  to  the 
commanding  officer  for  instructions.  The  colonel 


120  WAREIOR  QAP. 

was  taking  his  nap  after  lunch,  and  the  adjutant 
was  at  the  office,  and  what  does  he  do  but  get  up 
from  his  desk  solemn-like,  and  when  the  lieutenant 
says  *  I  report  the  arrival  of  Troop  "  C  "  at  the  post, 
sir,'  the  adjutant  didn't  answer  a  word,  but 
reached  out  and  got  his  sabre  and  began  buckling 
it  around  him,  and  then  he  put  on  his  cap  and 
gloves,  and  says  he,  '  Lieutenant  Dean,  I'm  sorry, 
but  my  instructions  are  to  place  you  in  close  arrest^ 
by  order  of  Colonel  Stevens.'  Why,  you  could 
have  knocked  me  down  with  the  kick  of  a  gopher  I 
was  so  dumt'ounded  !  The  lieutenant  he  didn't  say 
anything  for  a  minute,  but  turned  white  and  looked 
like  he  could  have  knocked  the  top  of  the  adjutant's 
head  off.  '  An  officer  will  be  sent  to  take  charge 
of  the  troop,'  said  the  adjutant,  '  an.'  I  suppose 
you'd  better  confine  yourself  to  your  tent,  as  the 
colonel  means  to  have  them  camp  there  a  day  or 
two,  until  he  hears  from  Captain  Brooks  as  to  quar 
ters.'  'Well,  will  you  have  the  goodness  to  say 
what  charges  have  been  laid  against  me  ?'  said  Mr. 
Dean,  and  the  adjutant  hemmed,  and  hawed,  and 
'lowed  that  the  colonel  hadn't  formerly  drawn  'em 
up  yet,  but  that  a  copy  would  be  served  on  him  as 
soon  as  they  were  ready." 

"  Then  I  said  I'd  go  right  in  and  find  you,  and 
that's  all  I  know," 


WARRIOR  GAP.  121 

And  then  it  was  that  Folsom  turned  on  Burleigh, 
with  gloom  in  his  eye,  and  said  :  "  By  the  Eternal, 
Major  Burleigh,  I  hope  youVe  had  nothing  to  do 
with  this !" 

"  Nothing  in  the  world,  I  assure  you,  Mr.  Folsom. 
I— I  deeply  regret  it.  Though,  as  I  have  told  you, 
I  can  hardly  be  surprised,  after  what  has  been  said, 
and — d  what  I  have  seen."  But  the  major  could  not 
squarely  meet  the  gaze  in  the  keen  eyes  of  the  old 
trader,  nor  could  the  latter  conceal  his  suspicions. 
"  I  know  you  wish  to  hear  all  the  particulars  of  the 
affair  at  the  ranch  from  this  gentleman,"  said  the 
major  uneasily,  "  so  I  will  leave  you  with  him  for 
the  present,"  and  backing  out  into  the  hall  he 
turned  to  the  foot  of  the  winding  staircase  where 
Elinor  had  met  her  friend.  The  girls  were  still 
there,  their  faces  clouded  with  surprise  and  anxiety. 
It  was  an  opportunity  not  to  be  lost. 

"Pray  do  not  be  troubled,  Miss  Folsom,"  said 
Burleigh,  advancing  upon  them  with  outstretched 
hand,  "er,  Mr.  Folsom  merely  wants  to  hear  further 
details  from  Lannion.  I  wish  to  extend  my  con 
gratulations  to  you  and,  ah,  this  }Toung  lady,  first 
upon  the  fortunate  escape  of  your  brother,"  and  he 
bowed  over  his  distended  stomach  to  Elinor,  "  and 
second  upon  the  part  played  by  yours,"  and  he  re 
peated  the  bow  to  Jess,  who,  however,  shrank 


122  WARRIOR  GAP. 

away  from  the  extended  hand.  "It  will  go  far  1  * 
counteract  the  stories  that  I — ah,  er — believe  yoa 
know  about — that  were  in  circulation,  and  most 
unjustly,  doubtless,  at — er — his  expense." 

"  Who  put  them  in  circulation,  Major  Burleigh  ?" 
asked  .Fappoose,  her  brown  eyes  studying  his  fact? 
as  unflinchingly  as  had  her  father's  gaze  a  moment 
before. 

"  That,  my  dear  young  lady  I — er — cannot  sur 
mise.  They  are  mostly  imaginative,  I  dare  say." 

But  Miss  Folsom  looked  unmollified,  Miss  Dean 
agitated,  and  Burleigh  himself  had  many  a  reason 
for  feeling  ill  at  ease.  Just  at  the  time  of  all  others 
when  he  most  desired  to  stand  on  good  terms  with 
the  well-to-do  old  trader  and  his  charming  daughter 
he  found  himself  the  object  of  distrust.  He  was 
thinking  hard  and  far  from  hopefully  as  a  moment 
later  he  hastened  down  the  street. 

"  Tell  them  to  send  up  my  buggy,  quick,"  were 
his  orders  as  he  stepped  within  his  office  door 
way.  Then  lowering  his  voice,  "  Has  Captain  New- 
hall  returned  ?"  he  asked  the  chief  clerk. 

"  The  captain  was  here,  sir.  Left  word  he  needed 
to  take  the  first  train — freight  or  construction,  it 
made  no  difference — to  Cheyenne  and  expected  to 
find  a  letter  or  package  from  you,  and  there's  two 


WARRIOR  GAP.  123 

telegrams  in   from  Department   Headquarters  on 
your  desk,  sir." 

The  major  turned  thither  with  solemn  face,  and 
read  them  both,  his  back  to  his  subordinate,  his  face 
to  the  light,  and  growing  grayer  every  moment, 
One  was  a  curt  notification  that  ten  thousand  dol 
lars  would  be  needed  at  once  at  Warrior  Gap  to 
pay  contractors  and  workmen,  and  directing  him  to 
send  the  amount  from  the  funds  in  his  keeping. 
The  other  read  as  follows : 

"Have  all  transportation  put  in  readiness  for 
immediate  field  service.  Every  wheel  may  be 
needed." 

This  he  tossed  carelessly  aside.  Over  the  first  he 
pondered  deeply,  his  yellow-white  face  growing 
dark  and  haggard. 

Ten  thousand  dollars  to  be  sent  at  once  to  War 
rior  Gap!  Workmen's  pay!  Who  could  have 
predicted  that?  Who  could  have  given  such  an 
order  ?  Who  would  have  imagined  payment  would 
have  to  be  made  before  July,  when  some  reasonable 
amount  of  work  had  been  done?  What  could 
laborers  do  with  their  money  up  there,  even  if  they 
had  it?  It  was  preposterous !  It  was  risky  to  at 
tempt  to  send  it.  But  what  was  infinitely  worse — 
for  him — it  was  impossible.  The  money  was  prac 
tically  already  gone,,  but— not  to  Warrior  Gap. 


124  WARRIOR  GAP. 

Those  were  days  when  inspectors''  visits  were  like 
those  of  other  angels,  few  and  far  between.  The 
railway  was  only  just  finished  across  the  great  divide 
of  the  Black  Hills  of  Wyoming.  Only  as  far  as 
Cheyenne  was  there  a  time  schedule  for  trains,  and 
that — far  more  honored  in  the  breach  than  the  ob 
servance.  Passengers  bound  west  of  that  sinfully 
thriving  town  were  luckier,  as  a  rule,  if  they  went 
by  stage.  Those  were  days,  too,  in  which  a  depot 
quartermaster  with  a  drove  of  government  mules 
and  a  corral  full  of  public  vehicles  at  his  command 
was  a  monarch  in  the  eyes  of  the  early  settlers ;  and 
when,  added  to  these  high-priced  luxuries,  he  had 
on  deposit  in  various  banks  from  Chicago  to  Chey 
enne,  and  even  here  at  Gate  City,  thousands  of 
dollars  in  government  greenbacks  expendible  on  his 
check  for  all  manner  of  purposes,  from  officers' 
mileage  accounts  to  the  day  laborer's  wages,  from 
bills  for  the  roofing  of  barracks  and  quarters  to  the 
setting  of  a  single  horseshoe,  from  the  purchase  of 
forage  and  fuel  for  the  dozen  military  posts  within 
range  of  his  supply  trains  down  to  a  can  of  axle 
grease.  Every  one  knew  Burleigh's  horses  and  habits 
were  far  more  costly  than  his  pay  would  permit. 
Everybody  supposed  he  had  big  returns  from  mines 
and  stocks  and  other  investments.  Nobody  knew 
just  what  his  investments  were,  and  only  he  knew 


GAP,  125 

how  few  they  were  and  how  unprofitable  they  had 
become.  Those  were  days  when,  as  now,  disburs 
ing  officers  were  forbidden  to  gamble,  but  when, 
not  as  now,  the  law  was  a  dead  letter.  Burleigh 
had  gambled  for  years;  had,  with  little  remorse, 
ruined  more  than  one  man,  and  yet  stood  now  awe- 
stricken  and  dismayed  and  wronged  by  Fate,  since 
luck  had  turned  at  last  against  him.  Large  sums 
had  been  lost  to  players  inexorable  as  he  himself 
had  been.  Large  sums  had  been  diverted  from  the 
government  channels  in  his  charge,  some  to  pay  his 
so-called  debts  of  honor,  some  to  cover  abstractions 
from  other  funds,  "  robbing  Peter  to  pay'  Paul," 
some  to  silence  people  who  knew  too  much ;  some, 
ay,  most  of  it,  in  fact,  to  cover  margins,  and  once 
money  gets  started  on  that  grade  it  slips  through 
one's  fingers  like  quicksilver.  At  the  very  moment 
when  Anson  Burleigh's  envious  cronies  were  telling 
each  other  he  stood  far  ahead  of  the  world,  the  fig 
ures  were  telling  him  he  stood  some  twenty  thousand 
dollars  behind  it,  and  that,  too,  when  he  was  coo- 
fronted  by  two  imperative  calls  for  spot  cash,  one 
for  ten  thousand  to  go  to  Warrior  Gap,  another  for 
a  sum  almost  as  big  to  "stake"  a  man  who  never 
yet  had  turned  an  honest  penny,  yet  held  the  quarter 
master  where  he  dare  not  say  so — where  indeed  he 
dare  not  say  no. 


126  WARRIOR  GAP. 

"  If  you  haven't  it  you  know  where  you  can  get  it 
— where  you  have  often  got  it  before,  and  where 
you'd  better  get  it  before  it's  too  late;"  these  were 
words  said  to  him  that  very  morning,  in  tones  so 
low  that  none  bat  he  could  hear;  yet  they  were 
ringing  in  his  head  now  like  the  boom  of  some  toll 
ing  bell.  Time  was  when  he  had  taken  government 
money  and  turned  it  into  handsome  profit  through 
the  brokers  of  San  Francisco  and  Chicago.  But,  as 
Mr.  John  Oakhurst  remarked,  "There's  only  one 
thing  certain  about  luck,  and  that  is  it's  bound  to 
change,"  and  change  it  had,  and  left  him  face  to 
face  with  calamity  and  dishonor.  Where  was  he 
to  raise  the  ten  thousand  dollars  that  must  be  sent 
to  the  post  quartermaster  at  Warrior  Gap?  The 
end  of  the  fiscal  year  was  close  at  hand.  He  dare 
not  further  divert  funds  from  one  appropriation  to 
cover  shortages  in  another.  He  could  borrow 
from  the  banks,  with  a  good  endorser,  but  what  en 
dorser  was  there  good  enough  but  John  Folsom  ? — 
the  last  man  now  whom  he  could  bear  to  have  suspect 
that  he  was  in  straits.  Folsom  was  reported  to 
be  worth  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  that 
lovely  girl  would  inherit  half  his  fortune.  There 
lived  within  his  circle  no  man,  no  woman  in  whose 
esteem  Burleigh  so  longed  to  stand  high,  and  he  had 
blundered  at  the  start.  Damn  that  young  cub  who 


GAP.  12? 

dared  to  lecture  him  on  the  evils  of  poker !  Was  a 
boy  lieutenant  to  shame  him  before  officers  of  the 
general's  staff  and  expect  to  go  un whipped  ?  Was 
that  butt-headed  subaltern  to  be  the  means  of  ruin 
ing  his  prospects  right  here  and  now  when  he  stood 
so  sorely  in  need  of  aid  ?  Was  the  devil  himself  in 
league  against  him,  that  that  boy's  sister  should 
turn  out  to  be  the  closest  friend  old  Folsom's 
daughter  ever  had — a  girl  to  whom  father  and 
daughter  both  were  devoted,  and  through  her  were 
doubtless  interested  in  the  very  man  he  had  been 
plotting  to  pull  down  ?  Burleigh  savagely  ground 
his  teeth  together. 

"  Go  and  hurry  that  bug.sry,"  he  ordered,  as  he 
crushed  the  sheet  of  paper  on  which  he  had  been 
nervously  figuring.  Then,  springing  up,  he  began 
pacing  his  office  with  impatient  stride.  A  clerk 
glanced  quickly  up  from  his  desk,  watched  him  one 
moment  with  attentive  eye,  and  looked  significantly 
at  his  neighbor.  "  Old  man's  getting  worse  rattled 
every  day,1'  was  the  comment,  as  the  crash  of 
wheels  through  loose  gravel  announced  the  coming 
of  the  buggy,  and  Burleigh  hastened  out,  labored 
into  his  seat,  and  took  the  whip  and  reins.  The 
blooded  mare  in  the  shafts  darted  forward  at  the 
instant,  but  he  gathered  and  drew  her  in,  the 
nervous  creature  almost  settling  on  her  haunches. 


128  tfAzmon  GAP. 

"Say  to  Captain  Newhall  when  he  gets  back- 
that  I'll  see  him  this  evening,"  called  Burleigh  over 
his  shoulder.  "  Now,  damn  you,  go — if  you  want  to!'* 

and  the  hish  fell  on  the  glistening,  quivering  flank, 
and  with  her  head  pointed  for  the  hard,  open 
prairie,  the  pretty  creature  sped  like  mad  over  the 
smooth  roadway  and  whirled  the  light  buggy  out 
past  the  scattered  wooden  tenements  of  the  exterior 
limits  of  the  frontier  town — the  tall  white  staff, 
tipped  by  its  patch  of  color  flapping  in  the  mountain 
breeze,  and  the  dingy  wooden  buildings  on  the  dis 
tant  bluff  whirling  into  view  as  he  spun  around  the 
corner  where  the  village  lost  itself  in  the  prairie  ;  and 
there,  long  reaches  ahead  of  him,  just  winding  up 
the  ascent  to  the  post  was  a  stylish  team  and  trap. 
John  Folsora  and  the  girls  had  taken  an  early  start 
and  got  ahead  of  him. 

Old  Stevens  was  up  and  about  as  Folsom's  car 
riage  drove  swiftly  through  the  garrison  and  passed 
straight  out  by  the  northeast  gate.  "I'll  be  back 
to  see  you  in  a  moment,"  shouted  the  old  driver 
smilelessly,  as  he  shot  by  the  lonely  colonel,  going, 
papers  in  hand  to  his  office,  and  Stevens  well  knew 
he  was  in  for  trouble.  Already  the  story  was  blaz 
ing  about  tha  post  that  nothing  but  the  timely 
arrival  of  Dean  and  his  men  had  saved  Folsom's 
ranch,  and  Folsom's  people.  Already  the  men, 


WARHIOH  GAP.  129 

wondering  and  indignant  at  their  young  leaders 
arrest,  were  shouting  over  the  sutler's  bar  their 
paeans  in  his  praise,  and  their  denunciation  of  his 
treatment.  Over  the  meeting  of  sister  and  brother 
at  the  latter's  little  tent  let  us  draw  a  veil.  He 
stepped  forth  in  a  moment  and  bade  his  other 
visitors  welcome,  shook  hands  eagerly  with  Loom  is 
and  urged  their  coming  in,  but  he  never  passed  from 
under  the  awning  or  "  fly,"  and  Folsom  well  knew 
the  reason, 

"  Jump  out,  daughter,"  he  said  to  Pappoose,  and 
Loomis  assisted  her  to  alight  and  led  her  straight 
up  to  Dean,  and  for  the  first  time  in  those  two 
years  the  ex-cadet  captain  and  the  whilom  little 
schoolgirl  with  the  heavy  braids  of  hair  looked  into 
each  other's  eyes,  and  in  Dean's  there  was  amaze 
and  at  least  momentary  delight.  He  still  wore  his 
field  rig,  and  the  rent  in  the  dark-blue  flannol  shirt 
was  still  apparent.  He  was  clasping  Miss  Folsom's 
hand  and  looking  straight  into  the  big  dark  eyes 
that  were  so  unusually  soft  and  humid,  when 
Jessie's  voice  was  heard  as  she  came  springing  forth 
from  the  tent : 

"  Look,  Nell,  look  !  Your  picture  1"  she  cried,  as 
with  the  bullet-marked  carte  de  visite  in  her  hand 
she  flitted  straight  to  her  friend. 

"  Why,  where  did  this  come  from  ?"  asked  Miss 


WARRIOR  GAP. 


Folsora  in  surprise,  "  and  what's  happened  to  it  ?— 
all  creased  and  black  there  !"  Then  both  the  girls 
and  Loomis  looked  to  him  for  explanation,  while 
Folsom  drove  away,  and  even  through  the  bronze 
and  tan  the  boy  was  blushing. 

"  I  —  borrowed  it  for  a  minute  —  at  the  ranch  just 
as  Jake  came  in  wounded,  and  there  was  no  time  to 
return  it,  you  know.  We  had  to  gallop  right  out." 

"  Then  —  you  had  it  with  you  in  the  Indian  fight?" 
cried  Jess,  in  thrilling  excitement.  "Keally?  Oh, 
IS'ell  !  How  I  wish  it  were  mine.  But  how'd  it  get 
so  blackened  there  —  and  crushed?  You  haven't 
told  us." 

"  Tell  you  some  other  time,  Jess.  Don't  crowd  a 
fellow,"  he  laughed.  But  when  his  eyes  stole  their 
one  quick  glance  at  Elinor,  standing  there  in  silence, 
he  saw  the  color  creeping  up  like  sunset  glow  ail 
over  her  beautiful  face  as  she  turned  quickly  away. 
Lannion  had  told  them  of  the  close  shave  the  lion- 
tenant  had  had  and  the  havoc  played  by  that  bullet 
in  the  breast  pocket  of  his  hunting  shirt. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  131 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MEANTIME  "  Old  Pecksniff,"  as  commentators  of 
the  day  among  the  graceless  subs  were  won't  to 
call  Colonel  Stevens,  was  having  his  bau  quarter  of 
an  hour.  Leaving  his  team  with  the  orderly,  John 
Folsom  had  stamped  into  his  presence  unannounced, 
and  after  his  own  vigorous  fashion  opened  the  ball 
as  follows : 

"  Stevens,  what  in  the  devil  has  that  young  fellow 
done  to  deserve  arrest  ?" 

"  Oh,  ah,  shut  the  door,  Mr.  Adjutant,"  said  the 
commanding  officer,  apprehensively,  to  his  staff 
officer,  "and — d  I  desire  to  confer  with  Mr.  Folsom  a 
moment,"  whereat  the  adjutant  took  the  hint  and 
then  hied  himself  out  of  the  room. 

"  Now,  ah,  in  the  first  place,  Mr.  Folsom  this  is 
rather  a  long  and — d  painful  storv.  I'm — m — ah,  ah 
— in  a  peculiar  position." 

"  For  God's  sake  talk  like  a  man  and  not  like 
Burleigh,"  broke  in  the  old  trader  impulsively. 
"I've  known  you  off  and  on  over  twenty  years,  and 
you  never  used  to  talk  in  this  asinine  way  until 


WARRIOR  GAP. 

you  got  to  running  with  him.  Come  right  to  the 
point —  What  crime  is  young  Dean  charged  with  ? 
Those  girls  of  mine  will  have  to  know  it.  They 
will  know  he's  in  arrest.  What  can  I  tell  them?" 

"  Crime — ah — is  hardly  the  word,  Foisom.  There 
has  been  a  misunderstanding  of  orders,  in  short, 
and  he  was  placed  under  arrest  before — ah — before 
I  had  been  furnished  with  a  mass  of  information 
that  should  have  been  sent  to  me  before." 

"  Well,  what  fault  is  that  of  his  ?  See  here,  man, 
you  don't  mean  to  say  it  is  because  he  didn't  get 
here  three  days  ago  ?  That's  no  crime,  and  I  haven't 
knocked  around  with  the  army  the  last  forty  years 
not  to  know  the  regulations  in  such  matters.  Do 
you  mean  without  ever  hearing  what  kept  him  and 
what  splendid,  spirited  service  he  rendered  there 
along  the  Laramie,  that  you've  humiliated  that  fine 
young  fellow  and  put  him  in  arrest  ?" 

Pecksniff  whirled  around  in  his  chair.  "  Really 
now,  Mr.  Foisom,  I  can't  permit  you  to  instruct  me 
in  my  military  duties.  You  have  no  conception  of 
the  way  in  which  I've  boen  ignored  and  misled  in 
this  matter.  There  are  collateral  circumstances 
brought  about,  er — forcnd  on  me  in  fact,  by  injudi 
cious  friends  of  this  young  man,  and  he — he  must 
blame  them — he  must  blame  them,  not  me.  Now 
if  youll  permit  me  to  glance  over  this  mass  of 


WARRIOR  GAP.  133 

matter,  I  can  the  sooner  do  justice  in  the  premises." 
And  over  his  goggles  the  colonel  looked  pleadingly 
up  into  his  visitor's  irate  features. 

"Bead  all  you  like,  but  be  quick  about  it,"  was 
the  angry  rejoinder.  "  I  want  to  take  that  boy 
back  with  me  to  town  and  confront  him  with  one 
of  his  accusers  this  very  day — the  man  I  believe, 
by  the  ghost  of  Jim  Bridger.  is  at  the  bottom  of 
the  whole  business !"  and  Folsom  flopped  heavily 
and  disgustedly  into  a  chair,  at  sound  of  a  rap  at 
the  door,  which  opened  an  inch  and  the  adjutant's 
nose  became  visible  at  the  crack. 

"  Major  Burleigh,  sir,  would  like  to  see  }TOU." 

"  And  I'd  like  to  see  Major  Burleigh !"  stormed 
Folsom,  springing  to  his  feet.  Commanding  officers 
of  the  Stevens  stamp  had  no  terrors  for  him.  Ho 
had  known  his  man  too  long. 

"  Gentlemen,  gentlemen !"  cried  Pecksniff,  "  I 
can  have  no  disturbance  now  over  this  unfortunate 
matter.  Really,  Mr.  Folsom,  I  cannot  permit  my 
office  to  be  the  scene  of  any — of  any " 

But  his  words  wandered  aimlessly  away  into 
space  as  he  discovered  he  had  no  listener.  Folsom, 
finding  that  the  major  had  apparently  changed  his 
mind  and  was  not  coming  in,  had  changed  his  plan 
and  was  going  oat.  He  overtook  Burleigh  on  the 
boardwalk  in  front  and  went  straight  to  the  point. 


134  WARRIOR  GAP. 

"  Major  Burleigh,  you  told  me  a  short  time  ago 
that  you  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  allegations 
against  this  young  gentleman  who  was  placed  in 
arrest  here  this  afternoon,  yet  I  learn  from  my  own 
daughter  that  you  spoke  of  him  to  a  brother  officer 
of  his  in  terms  of  disparagement  the  day  you  got 
aboard  the  car  at  Sidney.  Mr.  Loomis  corroborates 
it  and  so  does  Miss  Dean.  I've  heard  of  two  other 
instances  of  your  speaking  sneeringly  of  him.  Now 
I  ask  you  as  man  to  man  what  it  is  you  have  to  tell  ? 
He  has  saved  the  lives  of  my  son,  his  wife  and 
child,  and  the  people  of  the  -ranch,  and  by  the 
Eternal  I'm  his  friend  and  mean  to  see  justice  done 
him !" 

Burleigh  listened  with  solemn  face  and  with  no 
attempt  to  interrupt.  He  waited  patiently  until 
Folsom  came  to  a  full  stop  before  he  spoke  at  all. 
Then  his  voice  was  eloquent  of  undeserved  rebuke 
— of  infinite  sympathy.  "Mr.  Folsom,"  he  said, 
"  it  would  be  useless  for  me  to  deny  that  before  I 
knew  your  charming  daughter  or  her — ah — very 
interesting  friend  I  did  speak  in  their  presence— 
ah — incautiously,  perhaps,  of  Mr.  Dean,  but  it  was 
in  continuance  of  a  conversation  begun  before  we 
boarded  th  3  car,  and  what  I  said  was  more  in  sor 
row  than  in  criticism.  The  young  gentleman  had 
Attracted  my  attention — my  favorable — ah — opiij- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  135 

ion  on  the  up  trip  to  the  Big  Horn,  and  I  was — ah 
—simply  disappointed  in  his  conduct  on  the  way 
back.  It  was  perhaps  due  to — ah — inexperience 
only,  and  my  whole  object  in  coming  here  in  haste 
this  afternoon  was  to  bear  testimony  to  his  ability 
and  zeal  as  a  troop  commander,  and  to  urge — ah — 
Colonel  Stevens  to  reconsider  his  action  and  restore 
him  at  once  to  duty.  I  had  hoped,  sir,  to  be  here — • 
ah — ahead  of  you  and  to  have  driven  him  in  my 
buggy — ah — to  meet  you,  but  I  am  disappointed — I 
am  disappointed  in  more  ways  than  one." 

Folsom  stood  and  wiped  his  streaming  face,  and 
looked  the  speaker  square  in  the  e37e,  and  Burleigh 
stood  the  scrutiny  with  unlooked-for  nerve.  Long 
years  at  the  poker-table  had  given  him  command  of 
his  features,  and  the  faculty  of  appearing  the  per 
sonification  of  serene  confidence  in  his  "  hand," 
when  the  twitching  of  a  nerve  might  cost  a  thou 
sand  dollars.  Folsom  was  no  match  for  him  in 
such  a  game.  Little  by  little  the  anger  and  sus 
picion  faded  from  his  eyes,  and  a  shame-faced  look 
crept  into  them.  Had  he  really  so  misjudged,  so 
wronged  this  gentleman  ?  Certainly  there  was 
every  appearance  of  genuine  sympathy  and  feeling 
in  Burleigh's  benevolent  features.  Certainly  he 
was  here  almost  as  soon  as  he  himself  had  come, 
and  very  possibly  for  the  same  purpose.  It  was  all 


136  WARRIOR  GAP. 

that  old  fool  Pecksniff's  doing  after  all.  Folsom 
had  known  him  for  years  and  always  as  more  or 
less  of  an  ass— a  man  of  so  little  judgment  that, 
though  a  major  in  the  line  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
war,  he  had  never  been  trusted  with  a  command  in 
the  field,  and  here  he  was  now  a  full  colonel  with 
only  three  companies  left  him.  Burleigh  saw  his 
bluff  was  telling,  and  he  took  courage. 

"Come  with  me,"  he  said,  "and  let  me  reassure 
you,"  and  the  doors  of  the  commanding  officer's 
sanctum  opened  at  once  to  the  omnipotent  disburser 
of  government  good  things,  Folsom  following  at 
his  heels.  "  Colonel  Stevens,"  he  began,  the  mo 
ment  he  was  inside,  and  before  the  colonel  could 
speak  at  all,  "  in  a  moment  of  exasperation  and  ex 
treme  nervous — ah — depression  the  night  I — er — 
started  East  so  hurriedly  after  a  most  exhausting 
journey  from  the  Big  Horn,  I  spoke  disparagingly 
of  the  action  of  Lieutenant  Dean  in  face  of  the  In 
dians  the  day  we  met  Red  Cloud's  band,  but  on 
mature  reflection  I  am  convinced  I  misjudged  him. 
I  have  been  thinking  it  all  over.  I  recall  how 
vigilant  and  dutiful  he  was  at  all  times,  and  my 
object  in  hurrying  out  here  to-day,  at — ah — almost 
the  instant  I  heard  of  his  arrest,  was  to  put  in  the 
best  words  I  could  think  of  in  his  behalf — to — ah — 
urge  you  to  reconsider  your  action,  especially  in 


WARRIOR  GAP.  137 

view  of  all  the — e — ah — encomiums  passed  upon 
his  conduct  in  this  recent  raid  on  the  Laramie." 

The  colonel  whirled  around  upon  him  as  he  had 
on  Folsom.  "  Major  Burleigh,"  he  began,  "  I  call 
you  to  witness  that  I  am  the  most  abused  man  in 
the  army.  Here  am  I,  sir,  thirty-five  years  in  serv 
ice,  a  full  colonel,  with  a  war  record  with  the  reg 
ulars  that  should  command  respect,  absolutely 
ignored  by  these  mushroom  generals  at  Omaha  and 
elsewhere — stripped  of  my  command  and  kept  in 
ignorance  of  the  movements  of  my  subordinates. 
Why,  sir,"  he  continued,  lashing  himself  on,  as  he 
rose  from  his  chair,  "  here's  my  junior  at  Frayne 
giving  orders  to  my  troop,  sir  ;  presumes  to  send 
them  scouting  the  Laramie  bottoms,  when  every 
man  is  needed  here,  and  then,  when,  as  it  happens, 
my  officer  and  his  men  get  into  a  fight  and  drive 
the  Indians,  to  whom  does  he  report,  sir?  ]Srot  to 
me,  sir — not  to  his  legitimate  commander,  but  he 
sends  couriers  to  Laramie  and  to  Frayne,  and 
ignores  me  entirely." 

A  light  dawned  on  Burleigh  in  an  instant.  Well 
he  knew  that  Dean's  reasons  for  sending  couriers  to 
those  guard  posts  of  the  Platte  were  to  warn  them 
that  a  war  party  had  crossed  into  their  territory, 
and  was  now  in  flight.  There  was  nothing  to  be 
gained  by  sending  a  man  galloping  back  to  the 


138  WARRIOR  GAP. 

of  the  railway  seventy -five  miles  to  the  rear — no 
earthly  reason  for  his  doing  so.  But  the  fact  that 
he  had  sent  runners  to  officers  junior  in  rank  to 
Stevens,  and  had  not  sent  one  to  him,  fairly  "  stuck 
in  the  crop"  of  the  captious  old  commander,  and  he 
had  determined  to  give  the  youngster  a  lesson. 
But  now  the  mail  was  in,  and  dispatches  from 
various  quarters,  and  a  telegram  from  Omaha 
directing  him  to  convey  to  Lieutenant  Dean  the 
thanks  and  congratulations  of  the  general  com 
manding  the  department,  who  had  just  received  full 
particulars  by  wire  from  Cheyenne,  and  Stevens 
was  glad  enough  to  drop  the  game,  and  Burleigh 
equally  glad  of  this  chance  to  impress  Foisom 
with  the  sense  of  his  influence,  as  well  as  of  his 
justice. 

"  I  admit  all  you  say,  colonel.  I  have  long — ah 
^—considered  you  most  unfairly  treated,  but  really 
— ah — in  this  case  of  Lieutenant  Dean's,  it  is,  as  I 
said  before,  inexperience  and — ah — the  result  of — 
ah — er — not  unnatural  loss  of — er — balance  at  a 
most  exciting  time.  A  word  of — ah — admonition, 
if  you  will  pardon  iny  suggestion,  all  he  probably 
needs,  for  he  has  really  behaved  very  well — ah — 
surprisingly  well  in  conducting  this — ah — pursuit." 

And  so  was  it  settled  that  later  the  colonel  was 
to  see  Mr.  Dean,  and  admonish  accordingly,  but 


WARRIOR  GAP.  139 

thai  meantime  the  adjutant  should  go  and  whisper 
in  his  ear  that  his  arrest  was  ended,  and  all  would 
be  explained  later,  thereby  releasing  him  before 
the  girls  discovered  the  fact  that  he  was  confined 
to  his  tent. 

But  the  adjutant  came  too  late.  The  tearful 
eyes  of  one,  the  flushed  and  anxious  faces  of  both 
damsels,  and  the  set  look  in  the  eyes  of  both  the 
young  officers  at  Dean's  tent,  as  the  adjutant  ap 
proached,  told  him  the  cat  was  out  of  the  bag. 
"  The  explanation  cannot  be  made  too  promptly  for 
me,  sir,"  said  Dean,  as  he  received  the  colonel's 
message  and  permitted  the  adjutant  to  depart  with 
out  presenting  him  to  the  two  prettiest  girls  he  had 
seen  in  a  year.  "  Now,  Loomis,  just  as  quick  as 
possible  I  want  you  to  go  with  me  to  that  man 
Burleigh.  I'll  cram  his  words  down  his  throat." 

"  Hush,  Dean,  of  course,  I'll  stand  by  you !  But 
— both  girls  are  looking.  Wait  until  to-morrow." 

How  many  a  project  for  the  morrow  is  dwarfed 
or  drowned  by  events  unlocked  for — unsuspected  at 
the  time  !  Not  ten  minutes  later  Folsom  and  Bur 
leigh  came  strolling  together  to  the  little  tent. 
Ashamed  of  his  apparently  unjust  accusation,  Fol 
som  had  begged  the  quartermaster's  pardon  and  in 
sisted  on  his  coming  with  him  and  seeing  the  young 
people  before  driving  back  to  town.  The  horses 


140  WARRIOR  GAP. 

were  being  groomed  at  the  picket  line.  The  west 
ern  sun  was  low.  Long  shadows  were  thrown  out 
over  the  sward  and  the  air  was  full  of  life  and  ex 
hilaration.  The  somber  fears  that  had  oppressed 
the  quartermaster  an  hour  earlier  were  retiring 
before  a  hope  that  then  he  dare  not  entertain. 

"  You — you  stood  by  me  like  a  trump,  Burleigh," 
old  Folsom  was  saying,  "  even  after  I'd  abused  you 
like  a  thief.  If  I  can  ever  do  you  a  good  turn  don't 
you  fail  to  let  me  know." 

And  Burleigh  was  thinking  then  and  there  how 
desperately  in  need  of  a  good  turn  he  stood  that 
minute.  What  if  Folsom  would  back  him? 
What  if— 

But  as  they  came  in  full  view  of  the  picket  line 
beyond  the  row  of  tents,  the  major's  eagerly  search 
ing  gaze  was  rewarded  by  a  sight  that  gave  him 
sudden  pause.  Halted  and  examining  with  almost 
professional  interest  the  good  points  of  a  handsome 
little  bay,  Lieutenant  Loomis  and  Jessie  Dean  were 
in  animated  chat.  Halted  and  facing  each  other, 
he  with  glowing  admiration  in  his  frank  blue  eyes, 
she  with  shy  pleasure  in  her  joyous  face,  Bean  and 
Elinor  Folsom  stood  absorbed  in  some  reminiscence 
of  which  he  was  talking  eagerly.  Neither  saw  the 
coming  pair.  Neither  heard  the  rapid  beat  of 
bounding  hoofs  nearing  them  in  eager  haste, 


WAHRIOR  GAP.  141 

Keither  noted  that  a  horseman  reined  in,  threw 
himself  from  saddle  and  handed  Burleigh  a  tele 
graphic  message  which,  with  trembling  hands,  he 
opened  and  then  read  with  starting  eyes. 

"  My  heaven,  Folsom  !"  he  cried.  "  I  ought  to 
have  known  something  was  coming  when  I  got 
orders  to  have  every  mule  and  wheel  ready.  Every 
thing's  to  be  rushed  to  the  Big  Horn  at  once.  Just 
as  you  predicted,  Red  Cloud's  band  has  broken 
loose.  There's  been  a  devil  of  a  fight  not  eighty 
miles  from  Frayne  1" 


WAR&IOH  GAP. 


CHAPTEK    XIII. 

AND  now  indeed  came  for  Marshall  Dean  a  time 
in  which  he  could  see  a  divided  duty.  A  camp  of 
woodchoppers  in  one  of  the  deep,  sequestered  val 
leys  of  the  mountains  had  been  suddenly  set  upon 
by  a  host  of  mounted  Indians  that  seemed,  like  the 
warriors  born  of  the  dragon's  teeth,  to  spring  up 
from  the  earth,  and  yelling  like  fiends  bore  down 
upon  the  little  guard.  Happily  for  the  wood- 
choppers,  but  unluckily  for  Lo,  the  commander 
was  a  cool-headed  veteran  of  the  late  war  who  had 
listened  time  and  again  to  yells  as  frantic  and  had 
withstood  charge  after  charge  ten  times  as  deter 
mined.  Most  unluckily  for  Lo  the  infantry  coin- 
pan}7  was  armed  with  the  new  Springfield  breech 
loader,  and  when  the  band  came  exultantly  on, 
having,  as  they  supposed,  drawn  the  fire  when  full 
four  hundred  yards  away,  they  were  confounded  by 
the  lively  crackle  and  sputter  of  rifles  along  the 
timber  in  front  of  them,  toppling  many  a  dashing 
warrior  to  earth  and  strewing  the  ground  with 


WAHRtOR  GAP.  143 

slaughtered  ponies.  That  charge  failed,  but  they 
rallied  in  furious  force.  There  were  only  forty 
soldiers :  they  had  five  hundred  braves,  so  on  they 
came  again  from  three  different  points,  and  again 
did  Powell's  sheltered  blue  coats  scatter  them  like 
red  autumn  leaves  before  the  storm.  Thrice  and 
four  times  did  they  essay  to  stampede  the  soldiers 
and  sweep  off  their  own  dead  and  wounded,  and 
each  time  were  they  soundly  thrashed,  thanks  to 
cool  courage  and  the  new  breech-loaders.  And 
Red  Cloud,  cursing  his  medicine  men,  drew  off  his 
baffled  braves  and  the  hills  that  night  resounded  to 
their  vengeful  war-whoops  and  echoed  back  the 
wailing  of  the  Indian  women  mourning  over  the 
slain.  "  All  well  enough  so  far,  lads,"  cried  Folsom, 
when  he  heard  the  news.  "Machpealota  is  un 
masked.  It's  war  to  the  knife  now,  so  for  God's 
sake  send  all  the  troops  you  can  muster  to  the  aid 
of  those  already  up  there  in  the  Big  Horn.  Next 
time  he  hits  he'll  have  all  the  Northern  Sioux  at 
his  back,  you  mark  my  words !" 

But,  who  the  devil  is  John  Folsom?  said  the 
Bureau  again.  Arrest  Red  Cloud.  Bring  his  band 
in  prisoners,  were  the  orders  to  the  agents,  and  the 
agents  called  for  troops  to  go  and  do  their  bidding. 
It's  one  thing,  as  I've  had  occasion  to  say  before,  to 
stand  off  with  breech-loaders  a  thousand  Indians 


144  WA&RffiM  GAP. 

armed  only  with  old  percussion  cap  muskets,  squir 
rel  rifles,  bows,  clubs  and  lances ;  it's  another  thing 
for  soldiers  armed  even  with  the  best  the  market 
affords,  to  march  into  an  Indian  position  and  arrest 
an  Indian  chief.  There  were  not  soldiers  enough 
north  of  the  Platte  to  do  it,  and  the  War  Department 
knew  it  if  the  Bureau  didn't.  Hence  the  mustering 
in  force  along  the  river,  and  the  mounting  in  hot 
haste  of  perhaps  ten  more  troops  and  companies, 
nowhere  near  enough  for  the  work  in  hand,  but  all 
the  nation  had  within  a  month's  march  that  could 
possibly  be  spared  from  other  work  and  work  more 
important. 

And  there  was  wrath  at  Emory,  where  the 
colonel  found  himself  ordered  to  send  all  his  trans 
portation  to  Frayne  forthwith,  and  all  his  remain 
ing  troops  except  one  of  foot.  "  Damnation  !  I've 
only  got  two  companies  of  foot,v  he  screamed,  in 
the  shrill  treble  of  piping  senility.  "  And  they  mean 
to  rob  me  of  my  cavalry,  too !  '  C '  troop  is 
ordered  to  be  held  in  readiness  for  special  service." 

The  transportation,  consisting  of  three  wagons 
and  two  ambulances,  with  the  somber  company  of 
infantry,  started  next  day,  however,  and  Dean,  with 
eager  expectancy  kept  his  men  in  camp,  cooked 
rations  ready,  ammunition  pouches  filled,  arms  and 
equipments  overhauled  and  in  perfect  order,  horses 


GAP.  14B 

examined  and  reshod,  ready  for  the  word  that 
might  come  any  minute  and  carry  him — he  knew 
not  whither.  Folsom  and  the  girls  had  to  drive 
back  to  dinner  without  him.  Despite  the  per 
mission  sent  by  the  colonel,  he  would  not  leave  his 
troop  and  go  in  town.  So  back  they  came  in  the 
soft  moonlight  and  spent  a  long,  lovely  summer 
evening  with  him,  while  the  band  played  melodi 
ously  in  the  fort  inclosure,  and  the  stars  twinkled 
over  the  peaks  of  the  Rockies  in  the  southern  skies. 
Folsom  spent  the  hours  wiring  to  Omaha  and  con 
ferring  with  such  officers  as  he  could  reach.  They 
thought  the  lesson  given  Eed  Cloud  would  end  the 
business.  He  knew  it  would  only  begin  it.  Bur- 
leigh,  saying  that  he  must  give  personal  attention  to 
the  selection  of  the  teams  and  wagons,  spent  the 
early  evening  in  his  corral,  but  sent  word  to  Folsom 
that  he  hoped  to  see  him  in  the  morning  on  business 
of  great  importance.  He  had  other  hopes,  too,  one 
of  them  being  that  now  the  order  to  send  that  big 
sum  in  currency  to  the  new  stockade  would  be 
revoked.  He  had  lost  no  time  in  suggesting  to  the 
chief  quartermaster  of  the  department  the  extreme 
hazard.  He  quoted  Folsom  as  saying  that  before 
we  could  send  one  hundred  men  to  Warrior  Gap 
Eed  Cloud  could  call  five  thousand,  and  the  chief 
quartermaster,  being  a  man  of  method  and  a 


146  VfAR&IOR  GAP. 

stranger  to  the  frontier  said,  as  said  the  Bureau 
"Who  the  devil  is  John  Folsom?     Do  as  you  are 
told."     But  that  answer  only  came  the  following 
day.     Meantime  there  was  respite  and  hope. 

Long  lived  that  beautiful  eveniug  in  the  memory 
of  four  young  hearts.  A  sweet  south  wind  had  been 
gently  playing  all  day  and  left  the  night  warm  and 
fragrant  of  the  pines  and  cedars  in  the  mountain 
parks.  All  Fort  Emory  seemed  made  up  of  women 
and  children  now,  for  such  few  soldiers  as  were  left, 
barring  the  bandsmen,  were  packing  or  helping 
pack  and  store  about  the  barracks.  From  soon  after 
eight  until  nearly  ten  the  musicians  occupied  their 
sheltered  wooden  kiosk  on  the  parade,  and  filled  the 
air  with  sweet  strains  of  waltz  or  song  or  stirring 
martial  melody. 

For  an  hour,  with  Elinor  Folsom  on  his  arm, 
young  Dean  was  strolling  up  and  down  the  moonlit 
walk,  marveling  over  the  beauty  of  her  dark,  yet 
winsome  face,  and  Loomis  and  Jessie,  stanch 
friends  already,  sauntered  after  them.  For  a  time 
the  merry  chat  went  on  unbroken.  They  were  talk 
ing  of  that  never-to-be-forgotten  visit  to  the  Point 
— Pappoose's  first— and  of  the  hop  to  which  the  tall 
cadet  captain  took  the  timid  schoolgirl,  and  of  her 
hop  card  and  the  distinguished  names  it  bore,  as 
names  ran  in  the  old  days  of  the  battalion ;  of  Kay, 


WAHRIOR  GAP.  14? 

who  danced  so  beautifully  and  rode  so  well — he  was 
with  the  — th  cavalry  now  somewhere  along  the 
U.  P.,  said  Dean — and  of  Billings  the  cadet  adjutant; 
he  was  with  a  light  battery  in  Louisiana.  "  Where 
this  Captain  Newhall  is  stationed,"  interrupted  Pap- 
poose,  with  quick,  upward  look.  "  I  wonder  if  he 
knows  him,  Mr.  Dean." 

"  lie  doesn't  like  him,  Til  venture  to  say,"  said 
Dean,  "  if  Newhall  doesn't  suit  you  and  Jessie,  and 
I'm  sure  I  shan't."  And  then  they  went  on  to  talk 
of  the  lovely  dance  music  they  had  at  the  Point 
that  summer,  and  how  bewitchingly  Elsen  used  to 
play  that  pretty  galop — "Puckwudjies" — the  very 
thing  for  a  moonlit  night.  One  could  almost  see 
the  Indian  fairies  dancing  about  their  tiny  fires. 

"It  was  that  galop — my  first  at  West  Point — that 
I  danced  v/ith  Cadet  Captain  Dean,"  said  Pappoose, 
looking  blilhely  up  into  his  steadfast  eyes.  "  You've 
no  idea  what  a  proud  girl  I  was !"  They  were  at 
the  upper  end  of  the  parade  at  the  moment.  The 
kiosk  was  only  fifty  yards  away,  its  band  lights 
sparkling  under  the  canopy,  the  moonlight  glinting 
on  the  smooth  surface  of  the  dancing  floor  that  an 
indulgent  post  commander  had  had  placed  there. 
Half  a  dozen  young  garrison  girls,  arm  in  arm  and 
by  twos,  were  strolling  about  its  waxen  face  await 
ing  the  jiext  piece ;  and  some  of  them  had  been 


14B  WARHIOH  OAP. 

importuning  the  leader,  for  at  the  moment,  soft  and 
rippling,  sweet  and  thrilling,  quick  and  witching, 
the  exquisite  opening  strains  of  "  Puckwudjies" 
floated  out  upon  the  night. 

"  Oh,  Jess!  Listen  !"  cried  Elinor  in  ecstasy  and 
surprise,  as  she  turned  back  with  quickly  beating 
heart. 

"  No,  no,  indeed!''  replied  her  soldier  escort,  with 
a  throb  in  his  breast  that  echoed  and  overmastered 
that  in  her  own.  "No  time  to  listen — come!  It 
was  your  first  galop  at  the  Point — let  it  be  our  first 
in  Wyoming."  And  in  a  moment  more  the  tall, 
lithe,  supple,  slender  forms  were  gliding  about  the 
dancing-floor  in  perfect  time  to  the  lovely  music, 
but  now  her  dark  eyes  could  not  meet  the  fire  in 
the  blue.  Following  their  lead,  Loom  is  and  Jessie 
joined  the  dance.  Other  couples  from  along  the 
row  hastened  to  the  scene.  In  five  minutes  a  lively 
hop  was  on  at  Emory,  and  when  at  last,  breathing 
a  little  hurriedly  and  with  heightened  color,  Elinor 
Folsom  glanced  up  into  his  joyous  and  beaming 
face — "  You  had  forgotten  that  galop,  Mr,  Dean," 
she  archly  said,  but  down  went  the  dark  eyes  again 
at  his  fervent  reply. 

"  Yes,  I  admit  it ;  but  so  long  as  I  live  I'll  never 
forget  this." 

Small  wonder  was  it  that  when  Burleigh  came 


WARRIOR  GAP.  149 

driving  out  at  tattoo  for  a  brief  conference  with  the 
colonel,  his  sallow  face  took  on  a  darker  shade  as  he 
suddenly  caught  sight  of  that  couple  standing  at  the 
moment  apart  from  the  dancers,  seeing  neither  them 
nor  him,  hearing  for  the  moment  no  music  but  that 
which  trembled  in  the  tones  of  his  deep  voice,  for 
Elinor  was  strangely  silent. 

"Marshall  Dean,"  whispered  Jessie  that  night,  as 
she  hugged  him  before  being  lifted  to  her  seat,  "  tell 
me  true,  wasn't  Pappoose's  picture  in  your  heart 
pocket  ?  Didn't  that  bullet  crease  it  ?" 

"  Promise  on  your  honor  not  to  tell,  Jess,"  he 
whispered. 

She  nodded  delightedly. 

"  Yes,  and  what's  more,  it's  there  now  P 

Early  on  the  morrow  came  further  news.  Troops 
from  Steel e  and  Bridger  were  on  the  move,  but  no 
word  came  for  the  cavalry  at  Emory,  and  Marshall 
Dean,  hitherto  most  eager  for  field  service,  learned 
with  joy  he  felt  ashamed  to  own  that  he  had  still 
another  day  to  spend  in  the  society  of  Jessie  and 
her  friend.  But  how  much  of  that  elation  Jessie 
could  have  claimed  as  due  to  her  every  sister  whose 
brother  is  in  love  can  better  tell  than  I.  At  eight 
they  came  driving  out  to  hear  the  band  at  guard- 
mounting,  though  to  old  Pecksniff's  pathetic  sorrow 
he  could  mount  only  twelve  men  all  told.  That 


150  WARRIOR  GAP. 

ceremony  over,  they  watched  with  kindling  eyes 
the  sharp  drill  of  Marshall's  troop ;  that  soldierly 
young  commander,  one  may  feel  well  assured,  show 
ing  his  men,  his  horses,  and  himself  off  to  the  best 
of  his  ability,  as  who  would  not  have  done  under 
such  scrutiny  as  that.  Loom  is  was  with  them,  but 
Elinor  drove,  for  her  father  had  urgent  business,  he 
said,  and  must  remain  at  his  office.  Major  Burleigh, 
he  added,  was  to  meet  him,  whereat  the  girls  were 
silent. 

ulf  you  could  have  beard  the  major  pleading  with 
that  cantankerous  old  fool  at  the  fort  in  Marshall's 
behalf  you  would  get  over  your  wrath  at  Burleigh 
just  as  I  did,"  said  Folsom,  to  both,  apparently,  and 
still  neither  answered.  Burleigh  was  evidently 
persona  non  grata  in  the  eyes  of  both.  "  He  tells 
me  Captain  New  hall  is  still  here,  waiting  for  a  train 
to  be  made  up  to  run  back  to  Cheyenne.  I'm  afraid 
I'll  have  to  ask  him  to  bring  the  captain  to  dinner 
to-day,  Do  you  think  Mr.  Dean  will  care  to  come  ?" 
he  asked. 

"  I  think  he  would  rather  not  leave  camp,"  said 
Jessie  slowly.  "  Orders  may  come  any  minute,  he 


says." 


"  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  answered  Folsom,  vaguely 
relieved.  Something  told  him  there  was  antago 
nism  between  the  young  fellow  and  Burleigh  that 


WARRIOR  GAP.  151 

would  be  apt  to  involve  Kewhall,  too.  "  I'll  ask 
them  both,  if  you  don't  very  much  mind,"  he  went 
on,  whispering  to  Elinor.  "  And  will  you  tell  Mrs. 
Fletcher  ?  How  is  she  this  morning?" 

"  Just  as  usual,  papa.  She  says  she  has  rather 
violent  headaches  once  in  a  while,  and  she  thinks  it 
prudent  to  keep  her  room  to-day.  But  I  can  attend 
to  everything."  Indeed,  thought  the  daughter, 
she  wished  she  had  it  all  to  do. 

And  so  Folsom  had  gone  to  meet  Burlei-gh,  and 
the  girls  had  planned,  at  least  Jessie  had,  that 
Marshall  after  drill  should  ride  beside  them  into 
town  and  have  a  chat  in  the  parlor  while  she  wrote 
to  mother  in  the  library.  But  a  thing  happened 
that  no  one  could  have  foreseen.  Just  before  drill 
was  over  and  while  they  were  still  watching  it  from 
their  seats  in  the  covered  wagon,  a  buggy  drove  up 
alongside  and  Major  Burleigh  jumped  out,  gave  the 
reins  to  his  companion  and  bade  him  come  to  him 
as  soon  as  he  had  finished  what  he  wished  to  do  at 
the  sutler's.  The  major's  face  was  perturbed,  that 
of  his  companion  looked  black  and  ugly.  It  was 
Captain  Newhall,  and  something  was  amiss.  The 
latter  barely  tipped  his  hat  in  driving  away,  the 
former  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief,  then  turned  to  greet 
ihe  girls. 

Ten  minutes  passed  in  constraint  and  awkward- 


152  WARRIOR  GAP. 

ness.  Burleigh  felt  that  he  was  unwelcome,  but  his 
eyes  were  fixed  in  fascination  on  Elinor  Folsorn, 
and  he  could  not  go.  Presently  drill  was  dismissed, 
and  Dean,  all  aglow,  came  galloping  up,  his  orderly 
trumpeter  following.  Not  until  he  had  joyously 
greeted  both  the  girls  did  he  see  who  was  standing 
by  the  forward  wheel  on  the  opposite  side. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Dean,"  said  Burleigh  af 
fably.  "  I  never  saw  that  troop  look  so  well." 

"  Good-morning,  sir,"  said  Dean  coldly.  Then 
turned  to  speak  again  to  Miss  Folsom  when  the 
buggy  came  whirring  back. 

"  He  isn't  here,  Burleigh,"  said  the  occupant 
petulantly.  "  He's  in  town,  and  you've  got  to  find 
him  right  off.  Come  on!" 

Burleigh  turned  livid.  "  Captain  Newhall,"  he 
said,  "  you  fail  to  notice  I  am  with  friends." 

"  They  are  friends  who  will  be  glad  to  get  rid  of 
you,  then,"  replied  the  stranger  thickty,  and  it  was 
easy  to  see  that  he  had  been  drinking.  All  the 
same  Burleigh  went. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  153 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

ANOTHER  day  Dean  and  Troop  "  C  "  were  held 
in  camp  awaiting  orders  for  special  service,  and  no 
orders  came.  "  Old  Pecksniff  "  had  an  eye  for  pretty 
girls,  a  trait  by  no  means  rare  in  soldiers  old  or 
young,  and  prettier  girls  than  Pappoose  and  Jessie 
he  had  never  met.  Mrs.  Stevens  was  accordingly 
bidden  to  invite  them  to  luncheon  that  very  day, 
and  Dean  and  Loomis  were  of  the  party,  as  were 
other  young  people  of  the  post,  and,  despite  the 
rising  war  clouds  in  the  north  and  the  recent  un 
pleasantness  at  Emory  and  an  odd  manner  indicative 
of  suppressed  excitement  on  part  of  both  Dean  and 
Loomis,  a  very  joyous  time  they  had  until  the  dam 
sels  Had  to  drive  home  to  dress  for  dinner.  Folsom 
had  named  six  as  the  hour.  Burleigh,  Newhall  and 
the  two  boys  were  mentioned  as  his  guests.  Bur 
leigh  accepted  for  self  and  partner,  Loomis  for  him- 
self,  with  mental  reservation.  Dean  at  once  had 
begged  to  be  excused.  After  the  morning's  disap 
pearance  of  Burleigh  and  "  Surly,"  as  Miss  Folsom 
promptly  named  the  pair^  Marshall  had  ridden  into 


154  WARRIOR  GAP. 

Gate  City  at  the  side  of  the  Folsom  carriage,  and 
was  welcomed  by  the  old  trader  himself,  who  looked 
pained  when  told  he  could  not  attend  the  dinner. 
"  Surely  Colonel  Stevens  will  let  you  off,"  said  Fol 
som,  but  that  obviously  was  not  the  reason. 

"I'm  the  only  officer  with  my  troop,"  said  Dean, 
"  and  so  cannot  ask." 

But  \vhen  Folsom  took  his  daughter  in  his  arms 
a  little  later  and  inquired  whether  there  were  not 
some  graver  cause  behind  the  one  assigned,  Elinor 
calmly  answered  that  she  thought  there  was,  and 
that  the  cause  was  Major  Burleigh. 

"  But,  daughter  dear,"  said  he,  "  that's  just  one 
reason  I  wish  to  bring  them  together.  Then  Dean 
could  see  how  pleasantly  disposed  the  major  is," 
and  he  was  amazed  when  she  replied  : 

"  Major  Burleigh  may  be  pleasantly  disposed,  but 
Mr.  Dean  is  not,  by  any  means,  nor  would  I  be 
were  I  in  his  place,  papa." 

"My  child,"  said  he,  "what  do  you  know  about 
it?" 

"Everything  that  Jessie  knows,  besides  what  we 
heard  on  the  train.  Mar — Mr.  Dean  told  her  of 
several  things  Major  Burleigh  had  said  and  done  to 
his  discredit,  and  no  wonder  he  declines  to  dine 
with  a  man  who  has  deliberately  maligned  him." 

"  I  wish  I  had  thought  of  that,"  said  Folsom,  his 


WARRIOR  GAP.  155 

knotty  bands  deep  in  the  pockets  of  his  loose-fitting 
trousers.  "  I  saw  Burleigh  this  morning  on  some 
business,  and  he  seemed  to  want  to  help  Dean  along, 
What  took  him  out  to  the  fort,  do  you  suppose?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  answered  gravely.  "  He 
had  Captain  Newhall  with  him,  in  quest  of  some 
body  who  wasn't  there." 

"Ah,  yes,  Griggs,  the  sutler.  I  heard  of  it," 
interposed  Folsom,  fingering  his  watchchain. 

"  Very  possibly.  The  captain  was  ugly  and  rude 
in  manner  and  Major  Burleigh  very  much  embar 
rassed.  Indeed,  Daddy  dear,  I  should  not  be 
greatly  surprised  if  others  of  your  party  failed  to 
come." 

" Burleigh,  do  you  mean,  or  his  queer  guest?" 

But  Pappoose  did  not  reply.  She  seemed  listen 
ing  intently,  and  then  with  swift,  sudden  movement 
darted  across  to  the  heavy  Navajo  blanket  portiere 
that  hung  at  the  doorway  of  a  little  room  back 
of  the  library.  Her  voice  was  far  from  cordial  as 
she  asked : 

"  Were  you  looking  for  any  one,  Mrs,  Fletcher  ? 
I  thought  you  were  in  your  room." 

"  For  Mr.  Folsom,  please,  when  he  is  at  leisure," 
was  the  answer,  in  unruffled  tones.  "  I  believe  it 
easier  to  take  active  part  in  the  preparations  than 
to  lie  ihere  thinking." 


156  WARR108  GAP. 

At  one  the  girls  were  to  lunch  at  the  fort,  as  has 
been  said,  and  it  was  time  for  them  to  dress.  There 
were  other  matters  on  which  Elinor  much  wished 
to  talk  with  her  father  and,  with  more  reluctance 
than  she  had  yet  experienced,  she  left  him  to  hear 
what  Mrs.  Fletcher  might  have  to  say.  The  con 
ference  was  brief  enough,  whatever  Us  nature,  for 
presently  his  voice  was  heard  at  the  foot  of  the 
stairs. 

"  I'm  going  over  to  the  depot  a  few  minutes, 
Daught.  I  wish  to  see  Burleigh.  Don't  wait  for 
me.  Start  whenever  you  are  ready.  Where  do 
the  boys  meet  you  ?" 

"  Here,  Daddy,  at  half-past  twelve." 

It  was  high  noon  now,  and  the  ruddy -faced  old 
fellow  grew  redder  as  the  summer  sun  beat  down 
on  his  gray  head,  but  he  strode  sturdily  down  the 
broad  avenue  that  led  to  the  heart  of  the  bustling 
new  town,  turned  to  the  right  at  the  first  cross 
street  beyond  his  own  big  block,  and  ten  minutes1 
brisk  tramp  brought  him  to  the  gateway  of  Bur- 
leigh's  stcckaded  inclosure.  Two  or  three  em 
ployees  lounging  about  the  gate  were  gazing 
curiously  within.  Silent!}^  they  let  him  pass  them 
by,  but  a  sound  of  angry  voices  rose  upon  the  heated 
air.  Just  within  the  gate  stood  the  orderly  trum 
peter  holding  two  horses  by  the  reins,  one  of  them 


Marshall  Dean's,  and  a  sudden  idea  occurred  to 
Folsom  as  he  glanced  at  the  open  windows  of  the 
office  building.  There  was  no  mistaking  the  speaker 
jvitnin.  It  was  Burleigh. 

"  Leave  my  office  instantly,  sir,  or  I'll  prefer 
jharges  that  will  stick " 

"  Not  till  I've  said  what  I  came  to  say,  Major 
Burleigh.  I've  abundant  evidence  of  what  you've 
been  saying  at  my  expense.  You  asserted  that  I 
lost  my  nerve  the  day  we  met  Red  Cloud's  band — 
you  who  never  dared  get  out  of  the  ambulance  until 
the  danger  was  over.  It's  common  talk  in  the 
troop.  At  Frayne,  at  Reno,  and  here  at  Emory 
you  have  maligned  me  just  as  you  did  in  the  cars  to 
my  friend  here,  Mr.  Loomis,  and  in  hearing  of  my 
sister,  I  will  not  accept  your  denial  nor  will  I 
leave  your  office  till  you  swallow  your  words." 

"  Then,  by  God,  I'll  have  you  thrown  out,  you 
young  whipsnapper!" 

And  then  Folsom,  with  fear  at  his  heart,  ran 
around  to  the  doorway  to  interpose.  He  came  too 
late.  There  was  a  sound  of  a  furious  scuffle  within, 
a  rattling  of  chairs,  a  crunching  of  feet  on  sanded 
floor,  and  as  he  sprang  up  the  steps  he  saw  Dean 
easily  squirming  out  from  the  grasp  of  some  mem 
ber  of  the  clerical  force,  who,  at  his  master's  bid 
ding,  had  thrown  himself  upon  the  young  officer. 


158  WARRIOR  GAP. 

who  then  deftly  tripped  his  heels  from  under  him 
and  dropped  him  on  the  floor,  while  Loomis  con 
fronted  the  others  who  would  have  made  some  show 
of  obeying  orders.  And  then  there  was  the  whirr 
of  a  whip-lash,  a  crack  and  snap  and  swish,  and  a 
red  welt  shot  across  Burleigh's  livid  face  as  he  him 
self  staggered  back  to  his  desk.  With  raging  tongue 
and  frantic  oath  he  leaped  oat  again,  a  leveled  pistol 
in  his  hand,  but  even  before  he  could  pull  trigger, 
or  Folsom  interpose,  Loomis's  stick  came  down  like 
a  flash  on  the  outstretched  wrist,  and  the  pistol 
clattered  to  the  floor. 

"Good  God,  boys!  what  are  you  doing?"  cried 
the  trader,  as  he  hurled  himself  between  them. 
"  Stop  this  instantly.  Sit  down,  Burleigh.  Come 
out,  Dean — come  out  at  once !  And  you,  too, 
Loomis." 

"I'm  entirely  ready — now,"  said  the  cavalry 
lieutenant,  though  his  eyes  were  flaming  and  his 
lips  were  rigid.  "  But  whenever  Major  Burleigh, 
wants  to  finish  this  he  can  find  me,"  and  with  these 
words  he  backed  slowly  to  the  door,  face  to  the 
panting  and  disordered  foe. 

"Finish  this!  you  young  hound,  I'll  finish  you!" 
screamed  Burleigh,  as  he  shook  his  clinched  fist  at 
the  retiring  pair. 

"  Go,  boys,  go  !"  implored  Folsom.    "  I'll  see  you 


WARRIOR  GAP.  150 

by  and  by.  No — no — sit  still.  Burleigh.  Don't 
you  speak.  This  must  stop  right  here.'5 

And  so  the  old  man's  counsels  prevailed,  and  the 
two  friends,  with  grave,  pallid,  but  determined 
faces,  came  out  into  the  sunshine,  and  with  much 
deliberation  and  somewhat  ostentatious  calm  pro 
ceeded  to  where  the  orderly  waited  with  the  horses. 

"  You  will  see — the  ladies  out  to  camp,  Loomis  ?" 
asked  Dean.  "  I  must  gallop  on  ahead." 

"  Ay,  ay,  go  on,  I  reckon — 

But  on  this  scene  there  suddenly  appeared  a 
third  party,  in  the  partial  guise  of  an  officer  and 
the  grip  of  Bacchus.  Lurching  down  the  office 
steps,  with  flushed  face  and  bloodshot  eyes,  came 
Captain  Newhall. 

"  GenTm'n,"  said  he  thickly,  "  le'm  'ntroduce 
m'self.  Haven't  th'  honor  y'r  'quain's.  I'm  Ca'm 
New(hic)'ll.  Cap'n  N-n-(hic)oohaul  (this  cost  pro 
digious  effort  and  much  balancing),  an' — an'  you 
sherv'd  that  f'ler  per-per-flicky  ri'.  He's  dam 
scoun'rl — gen'lemen — an'  ole  frien'  mine." 

For  an  instant  he  stood  swaying  unsteadily,  with 
half- extended  hand.  For  an  instant  the  two  young 
officers  gazed  at  him  in  contempt,  then  turned 
abruptly  away. 

"  Good  Lord,  Marshall,"  said  Loomis,  as  they 
cleared  the  gate,  "  if  that's  the  only  approbation  this 


1BO  WAHRIOR  GAP. 

days  work  will  bring  us  what  will  the  results  be  t 
You  served  him  right,  no  doubt,  but—"  and  an 
ominous  shake  of  the  head  wound  up  the  sentence. 

"  But  or  no  but,"  said  Dean,  "it's  done  now,  ana 
I'd  do  it  again." 

There  was  no  dinner  party  at  Folsom's  that 
evening.  At  two  a  messenger  trotted  out  to  the 
post  with  a  note  for  Miss  Folsom  to  apprise  her  of 
the  fact,  and  without  a  word  or  change  of  color  she 
put  it  into  her  pocket.  The  garrison  girls  were 
bent  on  having  them  spend  the  afternoon,  but  pres 
ently  Miss  Folsom  found  a  moment  in  which  to 
signal  to  Jess,  and  at  three  they  were  driving 
home, 

"  You  will  surely  come  out  this  evening  and  hear 
the  music  and  have  a  dance,"  were  the  parting 
salutations,  as  with  skillful  hands  the  young  girl 
took  up  the  reins. 

"  We  hope  to,"  was  her  smiling  answer.  Jess  was 
clinging  to  her  brother's  hand  as  he  stood  by  the 
wheel,  and  Loomis  had  already  clambered  in  beside 
her. 

"  Please  come,  Marshall,"  pleaded  Jessie ;  but  he 
shook  his  head. 

"I  must  be  at  camp  this  evening,  sister  mine. 
We  go  to  stables  in  an  hour.  Ycu  will  come  back, 
Loomis?" 


WAKR10R  GAP.  161 

rt  As  soon  as  I've  seen — "  and  a  significant  nod 
supplied  the  ellipsis. 

Something  ominous  was  in  the  wind  and  both 
girls  knew  it,  -  Loomis,  usually  gay  and  chatty,  was 
oddly  silent,  as  the  light,  covered  wagon  sped 
swiftly  homeward.  Beside  the  fair  charioteer  sat 
a  young  officer  of  the  infantry  who,  vastly  re 
joicing  that  Dean  could  not  go,  had  laughingly  pos 
sessed  himself  of  the  vacant  place,  and  to  him  Miss 
Folsom  had  to  talk.  But  they  parted  from  their 
escorts  at  the  gate  and  hastened  within  doors.  Just 
as  Elinor  expected,  papa  had  not  come  home.  It 
was  nearly  six  when  she  saw  him  striding  slowly 
and  thoughtfully  up  the  road,  and  she  met  him  at 
the  gate. 

"  Tell  me  what  has  happened,  Daddy,"  was  her 
quiet  greeting,  as  she  linked  her  hands  over  his  burly 
arm,  and  looking  into  her  uplifted,  thoughtful  eyes, 
so  full  of  intelligence  and  deep  affection,  he  bent 
and  kissed  her  cheek. 

"  By  Jove,  daughter,  I  believe  it's  the  best  thing 
I  can  do.  Come  into  the  library." 

That  night  the  moon  beamed  brightly  down  on 
the  wide-spreading  valley,  glinting  on  the  peaks, 
still  snow-tipped,  far  in  the  southern  sky,  and  sof 
tening  the  rugged  faces  of  the  nearer  range,  black 
with  their  clustering  beard  of  spruce  and  pine.  The 


GAt. 


band  played  sweetly  on  the  broad  parade  until  aftet 
the  tattoo  drums  had  echoed  over  the  plains  and  the 
garrison  belles  strolled  aimlessly  in  the  elfin  light  — 
all  nature  so  lavishly  inviting,  yet  so  little  valued 
now  that  nearly  every  man  was  gone.  Out  in  the 
camp  of  "  C  "  Troop  men  were  flitting  swiftly  to  and 
fro,  horses  were  starting  and  stamping  at  the  picket 
ropes,  eager  eyes  and  tilted  ears  inquiring  the  cause 
of  all  this  stir  and  bustle  among  the  tents.  In  front 
of  the  canvas  home  of  the  young  commander  a 
grave-faced  group  had  gathered,  two  gentle  girls 
among  them,  one  with  tear-dimmed  eyes.  Old 
Folsom  stood  apart  in  murmured  conference  with 
Griggs.  the  sutler.  The  regimental  quartermaster 
was  deep  in  consultation  with  Dean,  the  two  officers 
pacing  slowly  up  and  down.  One  or  two  young 
people  from  the  garrison  had  spent  a  few  minutes 
earlier  in  the  evening  striving  to  be  interesting  to 
the  girls  ;  but  Jessie's  tearful  eyes  and  Miss  Fol- 
som's  grave  manner  proved  hint  sufficient  to  induce 
them  to  withdraw,  each  bidding  Dean  good  nigh  t? 
safe  journey  and  speedy  return,  and  the  hand-clasps 
were  kind  and  cordial.  The  colonel  himself  had  paid 
a  brief  visit  to  camp,  his  adjutant  in  attendance,  and 
had  given  Mr.  Dean  ten  minutes  of  talk  concerning 
a  country  Dean  knew  all  about,  but  that  "  Peck 
sniff  "had  never  seen,  "  It  is  a  responsibility  J 


WARRtOR  GAP.  163 

own  I  should  have  expected  to  see  placed  on  older 
shoulders,"  said  he,  "  but  prudence  and — and,  let 
me  suggest,  cool-headedness — will  probably  carry 
you  through.  You  will  be  ready  to  start " 

"  Eeady  now,  sir,  so  far  as  that's  concerned ;  but 
we  start  at  three." 

"Oh,  ah — yes,  of  course — well — ah — it  leaves  me 
practically  with  no  command,  but  I'll  hope  to  have 
you  back,  Mr.  Dean.  Good-by."  Then  as  he 
passed  Folsom  the  colonel  whispered  :  "That's ten 
thousand  dollars  as  good  as  thrown  away." 

"  Ten  thousand  dollars  !"  answered  the  trader  in 
reply.  "  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"  That's  what  those  boys  are  to  run  the  gauntlet 
with.  My — ah — protests  are  entirely  unavailing." 

For  a  moment  Folsom  stood  there  dumb.  "Do 
you  mean,"  he  finally  cried,  "  that — that  it's  beyond 
Frayne  that  they're  going — that  it's  money  they're 
to  take  2" 

"  Hush !  Certainly,  but  it  mustn't  be  known. 
Every  road  agent  in  Wyoming  would  be  out,  and 
every  Indian  from  the  Platte  to  Hudson's  Bay 
would  be  on  the  watch.  He's  to  take  ten  men  and 
slip  through.  The  money  comes  out  from  Burleigh 
to-night." 

The  colonel  turned  away,  and,  beckoning  to  his 
staff  officer  to  join  us,  stumped  onward  to  the  gar- 


164  w Ann  ton  GAP. 

rison.  The  prolonged  wail  of  the  bugle,  aided  by 
the  rising  night  wind,  sent  the  solemn  strains  of 
taps  sailing  down  the  dimly- lighted  valley,  and 
with  staring  eyes  old  Folsom  stood  gazing  after 
the  departing  officers,  then  whirled  about  toward 
the  tents.  There  in  front  of  Dean  stood  Pappoose, 
her  hands  clasped  lightly  over  the  hilt  of  the  saber 
the  "striker"  had  leaned  against  the  lid  of  the  mess 
chest  but  a  moment  before,  her  lovely  face  smiling 
up  into  the  owner's. 

"  You'll  come  back  by  way  of  Hal's,  won't  you  ?" 
she  was  blithely  saying.  "Perhaps  I  can  coax 
father  to  take  us  there  to  meet  you." 

"By  heaven,  Burleigh,"  muttered  the  old  trader 
to  himself,  "are you  the  deepest  man  I  ever  met,  or 
only  the  most  infernal  scoundrel  ?" 


WARRIOR  GAP.  165 


CHAPTER  XY. 

A  SLEEPLESS  night  had  old  John  Folsom,  and  with 
the  sun  he  was  up  again  and  hurriedly  dressing. 
Noiseless  as  he  strove  to  be  he  wras  discovered,  for 
as  he  issued  from  his  room  into  the  dim  light  of  the 
upper  hall  there  stool  Pappoose. 

"  Poor  Jess  has  been  awake  an  hour,"  said  she. 
•£  We've  been  trying  to  see  the  troop  through  the 
glass.  They  must  have  started  before  daybreak, 
for  there's  nothing  on  the  road  to  Frayne." 

"It  disappears  over  the  divide  three  miles  out," 
he  answered  vaguely,  and  conscious  that  her  clear 
eyes  were  studying  his  face.  "I  didn't  sleep  well 
either.  We  shall  be  having  news  from  Hal  to  day, 
and  the  mail  rider  comes  down  from  Frayne." 

She  had  thrown  about  her  a  long,  loose  wrapper, 
and  her  lustrous  hair  tumbled  like  a  brown-black  tor 
rent  down  over  her  shoulders  and  back.  Stead 
fastly  the  brown  eyes  followed  his  every  move. 

"  It  is  hours  to  breakfast  time,  Daddy  dear;  let 
nie  make  you  some  coffee  before  you  go  out," 


166  WARRIOR  GAP. 

"What?  Who  said  I  was  going  out?"  he  asked, 
forcing  a  smile ;  then,  more  gravely  :  "  I'll  be  back 
in  thirty  minutes,  dear,  but  wait  a  moment  I  cannot. 
I  \vant  to  catch  a  man  before  he  can  possibly  ride 
away." 

He  bent  and  kissed  her  hurriedly,  and  went 
briskly  down  the  stairs.  In  the  lower  hall  he  sud 
denly  struck  a  parlor  match  that  flared  up  and 
illumined  the  winding  staircase  to  the  third  story. 
Some  thought  as  sudden  prompted  her  to  glance 
aloft  just  in  time  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  woman's 
face  withdrawing  swiftly  over  the  balcony  rail.  In 
her  hatred  of  anything  that  savored  of  spying  the 
girl  could  have  called  aloud  a  demand  to  know 
what  Mrs.  Fletcher  wanted,  but  strange  things  were 
in  the  wind,  as  she  was  learning,  and  something 
whispered  silence.  Slowly  she  returned  to  Jessie's 
side,  and  together  once  more  they  searched  with 
the  glasses  the  distant  trail  that,  distinctly  visible 
now  in  the  slant  of  the  morning  sun,  twisted  up  the 
northward  slopes  on  the  winding  way  to  Frayne. 
Not  a  whiff  of  dust  could  they  see. 

Meantime  John  Folsom  strode  swiftly  down  the 
well-known  path  to  the  quartermaster's  depot,  a 
tumult  of  suspicion  and  conjecture  whirling  in  his 
brain.  As  he  walked  he  recalled  the  many  hints 
stories  that  had  come  to  his  ears  of  Burleigh's 


WARRIOR  GAP.  167 

antecedents  elsewhere  and  his  associations  here. 
With  all  his  reputation  for  enterprise  and  wealth, 
there  were  "shady"  tales  of  gambling  transactions 
and  salted  mines  and  watered  stocks  that  attached 
perhaps  more  directly  to  the  men  with  whom  he 
foregathered  than  to  him.  "  A  man  is  known  by 
the  company  he  keeps,"  said  Folsom,  and  Buiieigh's 
cronies,  until  Folsom  came  to  settle  in  Gate  City, 
had  been  almost  exclusively  among  the  "sharps," 
gamblers,  and  their  kindred,  the  projectors  and 
prospectors  ever  preying  on  the  unwary  on  the 
outer  wave  of  progress.  Within  the  past  six  months 
he  had  seen  much  of  him,  for  Burleigh  was  full  of 
business  enterprises,  had  large  investments  every 
where,  was  lavish  in  invitation  and  suggestion,  was 
profuse  in  offers  of  aid  of  any  kind  if  aid  were 
wanted.  He  had  gone  so  fur  as  to  say  that  he 
knew  from  experience  how  with  his  wealth  tied  up 
in  real  estate  and  mines  a  man  often  found  himself 
in  need  of  a  few  thousands  in  spot  cash,  and  as  Fol 
som  was  buying  and  building,  if  at  any  time  he 
found  himself  a  little  short  and  needed  ten  or  twenty 
thousand  say,  why,  Burleigh's  bank  account  was  at 
his  service,  etc.  It  all  sounded  large  and  liberal,  and 
Folsom,  whose  lot  for  years  had  been  cast  with  a 
somewhat  threadbare  array  of  army  people,  content 
'with  little,  impecunious  but  honest,  he  wondered 


108  WARRIOR  GAP. 

what  manner  of  martial  man  this  was.  Burleigh 
did  not  loudly  boast  of  his  wealth  and  influence,  but 
impressed  in  some  ponderous  way  his  hearers  with 
a  sense  of  both.  Yet,  ever  since  that  run  to  War 
rior  Gap,  a  change  had  come  over  Burleigh.  He 
talked  more  of  mines  and  money  and  showed  less, 
and  now,  only  yesterday,  when  the  old  man's  heart 
had  mellowed  to  him  because  he  had  first  held  him 
wholly  to  blame  for  Dean's  arrest  and  later  found 
him  pleading  for  the  young  fellow's  release,  a 
strange  thing  had  happened.  Burleigh  confided  to 
him  that  he  had  a  simply  fabulous  opportunity — a 
chance  to  buy  out  a  mine  that  experts  secretly  told 
him  was  what  years  later  he  would  have  called  a 
"  bonanza,"  but  that  in  the  late  sixties  was  locally 
known  as  a  "  Shanghai."  Twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  would  do  the  trick,  but  his  money  was  tied 
up.  Would  Folsom  go  in  with  him,  put  up  twelve 
thousand  five  hundred,  and  Burleigh  would  do  the 
rest  ?  Folsom  had  been  bitten  by  too  many  mines 
that  yielded  only  rattlesnakes,  and  he  couldn't  be 
lured.  Then,  said  Burleigh,  wouldn't  Folsom  go  on 
his  note,  so  that  he  could  borrow  at  the  bank?  Fol 
som  seldom  went  on  anybody's  note.  It  was  as  bad 
as  mining.  He  begged  off,  and  left  Burleigh  dis 
appointed,  but  not  disconcerted.  "  I  can  raise  it 
without  trouble,"  said  he,  "  but  it  may  take  forty- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  169 

eight  hours  to  get  the  cash  here,  and  I  thought  you 
would  be  glad  to  be  let  in  on  the  ground  floor." 

"  I've  been  let  in  to  too  many  floors,  major,"  said 
he.  "  You'll  have  to  excuse  me."  And  so  Burleigh, 
with  his  Louisiana  captain,  had  driven  off  to  the 
fort,  where  Newhall  asked  for  Griggs  and  was  im 
portunate,  nor  did  Griggs's  whisky,  freely  tendered 
to  all  comers  of  the  commissioned  class,  tend  to 
assuage  his  desire.  Back  had  they  gone  to  town, 
and  then  came  the  cataclysm  of  noon. 

In  broad  daylight,  at  his  official  desk,  in  the  pres 
ence  and  hearing  of  officers,  civilians  and  enlisted  men, 
as  the  soldier  lawyers  would  have  it,  a  staff  official  of 
high  rank  had  been  co winded  by  a  cavalry  subaltern, 
and  that  subaltern,  of  all  others,  the  only  brother  of 
Folsom's  fair  guest,  Jessie  Dean — the  boy  who  had 
saved  the  lives  of  Folsom's  son  and  his  son's  im 
periled  household,  and  had  thereby  endeared  himself 
to  him  as  had  no  other  young  soldier  in  the  service. 
And  now,  what  fate  was  staring  him  in  the  face? 
Released  from  arrest  but  a  day  or  so  before  upon  the 
appeal  of  the  officer  whom  he  had  so  soon  thereafter 
violently  assaulted,  Marshall  Dean  had  committed 
one  of  the  gravest  crimes  against  the  provisions  of 
the  Mutiny  Act.  Without  warrant  or  excuse  he 
had  struck,  threatened,  assaulted,  etc.,  a  superior 
officer,  who  was  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  at  th§ 


170  WARRIOR  GAP. 

time.  No  matter  what  the  provocation — and  in 
this  case  it  would  be  held  grossly  inadequate — there 
could  be  only  one  sentence — summary  dismissal 
from  the  army.  Just  as  sure  as  shooting,  if  Bur- 
leigh  preferred  charges  that  boy  was  ruined. 

And  for  mortal  hours  that  afternoon  it  looked  as 
though  nothing  could  hold  Burleigh's  hand.  The 
man  was  livid  with  wrath.  First  he  would  have 
the  youngster's  blood,  and  then  he'd  dismiss  him. 
Folsom  pointed  out  that  he  couldn't  well  do  both, 
and  by  two  o'clock  it  simmered  down  to  a  demand 
for  instant  court-martial.  Burleigh  wrote  a  furious 
telegram  to  Omaha.  He  had  been  murderously 
assaulted  in  his  office  by  Lieutenant  Dean.  He  de 
manded  his  immediate  arrest  and  trial.  Folsom 
pleaded  with  him  to  withhold  it.  Every  possible 
amende  would  be  made,  but  no !  Indeed,  not  until 
nearly  four  o'clock  could  Folsom  succeed  in  the  last 
resort  at  his  disposal.  At  that  hour  he  had  'ent  the 
quartermaster  fifteen  thousand  dollars  on  his  unin- 
dorsed  note  of  hand,  on  condition  that  no  proceed 
ings  whatever  should  be  taken  a  gainst  Mr.  Dean, 
Folsom  guaranteeing  that  every  amende  should  be 
made  that  fair  arbitration  could  possibly  dictate. 
He  had  even  gone  alone  to  the  bank  and  brought 
tne  cash  on  Burleigh's  representation  that  it  might 
hurt  his  credit  to  appear  as  a  borrower.  He  had 


WARRIOR  GAP.  171 

even  pledged  his  word  that  the  transaction  should 
be  kept  between  themselves. 

And  then  there  had  been  a  scene  with  that 
drunken  wretch  Newhall.  What  possible  hold  bad 
he  on  Burleigh  that  he  should  be  allowed  to  come 
reeling  and  storming  into  the  office  and  demanding 
money  and  lots  of  money — this,  too,  in  the  presence 
of  total  strangers  ?  And  Burleigh  had  actually  paid 
him  then  and  there  some  hundreds  of  dollars,  to  the 
stupefaction  of  the  fellow — who  had  come  for  a 
row.  They  got  him  away  somehow,  glad  to  go, 
possibly,  with  his  unexpected  wealth,  and  Burleigh 
had  explained  that  that  poor  devil,  when  he  could 
be  persuaded  to  swear  off,  was  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  efficient  officers  in  the  service,  that  he  was 
well  to  do,  only  his  money,  too,  was  tied  up  in 
mines ;  but  what  was  of  more  account  than  any 
thing  else,  he  had  devotedly  and  at  risk  of  his  own 
life  from  infection  nursed  his  brother  officer  Bur 
leigh  through  the  awful  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  in 
New  Orleans  in  '67.  lie  had  saved  Burleigh's  life, 
"  so  how  can  I  go  back  on  him  now,"  said  he. 

All  this  was  the  old  trader  revolving  in  mind  as 
he  hastened  to  the  depot,  all  this  and  more.  For 
two  days  Marshall  Dean  and  "  C  "  troop  had  stood 
ready  for  special  service.  Rumor  had  it  that  the 
old  general  himself  had  determined  to  take  the 


172  WAnnron  GAP. 

field  and  was  on  his  way  to  Gate  City.  It  was  pos 
sibly  to  escort  him  and  his  staff  the  troop  was 
ordered  kept  prepared  to  move  at  a  moment's 
notice.  On  I'urleigh's  desk  was  a  batch  of  tele 
grams  from  Department  Headquarters.  Two  came 
in  during  their  long  conference  in  the  afternoon, 
and  the  quartermaster  had  lowered  his  hand  long 
enough  from  that  lurid  welt  on  his  sallow  cheek  to 
hurriedly  write  two  or  three  in  reply.  One  Folsora 
felt  sure  was  sent  in  cipher.  Two  days  before;, 
Burleigh  had  urged  him  to  protest  as  vehemently  as 
he  could  against  tin;  sending  of  any  money  or  any 
small  detachment  up  to  the  Big  Horn,  and  protested 
lie  had  strenuously.  Two  days  before,  Burleigh 
said  it  was  as  bad  as  murder  to  order  a  pay 
master  or  disbursing  oilicer  to  the  Hills  with  any 
thing  less  than  a  battalion  to  escort  him,  and 
yet  within  four  hours  after  he  was  put  in  possession 
of  nearly  all  the  paper  currency  in  the  local  bank 
a  secret  order  was  issued  sending  Lieutenant  Dean 
with  ten  picked  men  to  slip  through  the  passes  to 
the  I'latte,  away  from  the  beaten  road,  and  up  to 
ten  r.M.  Dean  himself  was  kept  in  ignorance  of  his 
further  destination  or  the  purpose  of  his  going. 
Not  until  half-past  ten  was  a  scaled  package  placed 
in  his  hands  by  the  post  quartermaster,  who  had 
himself  received  it  from  Major  Uurleigh,  and  then 


GAP.  m 

and  there  the  young  officer  was  bidden  by  Colonel 
Stevens,  as  the  medium  of  the  department  com 
mander,  to  ride  with  all  haste  commensurate  with 
caution,  to  ford  the  Sweet-water  above  its  junction 
with  the  Platte,  to  travel  by  night  if  need  be  and 
hide  by  day  if  he  could,  to  let  no  man  or  woman 
know  the  purpose  of  his  going  or  the  destination 
of  his  journey,  but  to  land  that  package  safe  at 
Warrior  Gap  before  the  moon  should  wane. 

And  all  this  Burleigh  must  have  known  when  he, 
John  Folsom,  shook  his  hand  at  parting  after  tea 
that  evening,  and  had  then  gone  hopefully  to  drive 
his  girls  to  Emory  to  see  his  soldier  boy,  and  found 
him  busy  with  the  sudden  orders,  received  not  ten 
minutes  before  their  coming.  Something  in  Bur- 
leigh's  almost  tremulous  anxiety  to  get  that  money 
in  the  morning,  his  ill-disguised  chagrin  at  Folsonrs 
refusal,  something  in  the  eagerness  with  which,  de 
spite  the  furious  denunciation  of  the  moment  before, 
he  jumped  at  Folsom's  offer  to  put  up  the  needed 
money  if  he  would  withhold  the  threatened  charges 
— all  came  back  to  the  veteran  now  and  had  contin 
ued  to  keep  him  thinking  during  the  night.  Could 
it  be  that  Burleigh  stood  in  need  of  all  this  money 
to  cover  other  sums  that  he  had  misapplied  ?  Could 
it  be  that  he  had  planned  this  sudden  sending  of 
young  Dean  on  a  desperate  mission  in  revenge  that 


GAP. 


he  could  not  take  officially  ?  There  were  troops  at 
Frayne  going  forward  in  strong  force  within  the 
week.  There  were  other  officers  within  call,  a  dozen 
of  them,  who  had  done  nowhere  near  the  amount 
of  field  service  performed  by  Dean.  He,  a  troop 
commander  just  in  from  long  and  toilsome  marches 
and  from  perilous  duty,  had  practically  been  re 
lieved  from  the  command  of  his  troop,  told  to  take 
ten  men  and  run  the  gauntlet  through  the  swarming 
Sioux.  The  more  Folsom  thought  the  more  he  be 
lieved  that  he  had  grave  reason  for  his  suspicion, 
and  reason  equally  grave  for  calling  on  the  quarter 
master  for  explanation.  lie  reached  the  corral 
gate.  It  was  locked,  but  a  little  postern  in  the 
stockade  let  hisn  through.  One  or  two  sleepy 
hands  appeared  about  the  stables,  but  the  office  was 
deserted.  Straight  to  Burleigh's  quarters  he  went 
and  banged  at  the  door.  It  took  three  bangs  to  bring 
a  servant. 

"  I  wish  to  see  your  master  at  once.  Tell  him  I 
am  here,"  and  as  the  servant  slowly  shambled  up  the 
stairs,  Folsom  entered  the  sitting-room.  A  desk 
near  the  window  was  open  and  its  contents  littered 
about.  The  drawers  in  a  heavy  bookcase  were 
open  and  papers  were  strewn  upon  the  floor.  The 
folding  doors  to  the  dining-room  were  open.  De 
canters,  goblets,  cigar  stumps  and  heel  taps  were 


GAP.  1?5 

scattered  over  the  table.  Guest  or  host,  or  both, 
had  left  things  in  riotous  shape.  Then  down  came 
the  servant,  a  scared  look  in  his  eyes. 

"  The  major  isn't  in,  sir.  His  bed  hasn't  been 
occupied,  an'  the  captain's  gone,  too.  Their  uni 
forms  are  there,  though." 

Five  minutes  later,  on  a  borrowed  horse,  John 
Folsom  was  galloping  like  mad  for  home.  A  door 
in  the  high  board  fence  at  the  rear  of  his  house  shot 
open  just  as  he  was  darting  through  the  lane  that 
led  to  the  stable.  A  woman's  form  appeared  in  the 
gap — the  last  thing  that  he  saw  for  a  dozen  hours, 
for  the  horse  shied  violently,  hurling  the  rider 
headlong  to  the  ground. 


GAP. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AT  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  while  the  stars 
were  still  bright  in  the  eastern  sky,  the  little  party 
of  troopers,  Dean  at  the  irhead,  had  ridden  away 
from  the  twinkling  lights  of  camp,  and  long  before 
sunrise  had  crossed  the  first  divide  tothenorth>  and 
alternating  trot,  lope  and  walk  had  put  miles  be 
tween  them  and  Fort  Emory  before  the  drums  of 
the  infantry  beat  the  call  for  guard  mounting. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  party  halted  under  some 
spreading  willows,  deep  in  a  cleft  of  the  bold,  high 
hills  that  rolled  away  toward  the  Sweetwater 
valley.  Horses  were  unsaddled  and  picketed  out  to 
graze.  A  little  cook  fire  was  started  close  to  the 
spring  that  fed  the  tiny  brook,  trickling  away  down 
the  narrow  ravine,  and  iji  a  few  moments  the  aroma 
of  coffee  and  of  appetizing  slices  of  bacon  greeted 
the  welcoming  nostrils  of  the  hungry  men.  The 
sun  that  had  risen  clear  and  dazzling  was  now  ob 
scured  by  heavy  masses  of  clouds,  and  time  and 
again  Dean  cast  anxious  eyes  aloft,  for  a  storm  seemed 
sweeping  eastward  from  the  distant  Wahsatch 


WAHRIOR  GAP.  177 

range,  and  long  before  the  little  command  had  dived 
downward  from  the  heights  into  the  depths  of  this 
wild,  romantic  and  contracted  valley,  all  the  rolling 
upland  toward  Green  River,  far  to  the  west,  lay 
under  the  pall  of  heavy  and  forbidding  banks  of 
hurrying  vapor.  Coffee  and  breakfast  finished, 
Dean  climbed  the  steep  bluff  overhanging  the 
spring,  a  faithful  sergeant  following,  and  what  he 
saw  was  sufficient  to  determine  immediate,  action. 

"  Saddle  up.     We'll  push  ahead  at  once." 

For  an  instant  the  veteran  trooper  looked  dissent, 
but  discipline  prevailed. 

"  The  lieutenant  knows  that  Carey's  not  in  yet," 
he  ventured  to  say,  as  he  started  back  down  the 
narrow  game  trail  which  they  had  climbed. 

"Yes;  but  yonder  he  comes  and  so  does  the 
storm.  We  can't  be  caught  in  this  cafion  in  case  of 
a  hard  rain.  Let  Carey  have  some  coffee  and  a 
bite,  if  he  feels  well  enough.  Then  we'll  push  on." 

Ordinarily  when  making  summer  marches  over 
the  range,  the  first  "water  camp"  on  the  Sweet- 
water  trail  was  here  at  Canon  Springs.  On  the 
road  to  Frayne,  which  crossed  the  brook  ten  miles 
to  the  east,  all  wagon  trains  and  troops  not  on 
forced  march  made  similar  camp.  In  the  case  of 
scouting  detachments  or  little  parties  sent  out  from 
Emorv.  it  was  always  customary  to  spend  the  first 


1*8  WAHRIOR  GAP. 

night  and  make  the  first  camp  on  the  Box  Elder  at 
furthermost,  then  to  push  on,  ready  and  refreshed, 
the  following  day.  Dean  well  knew  that  to  get  the 
best  work  out  of  his  horses  he  should  start  easily, 
and  up  to  nine  o'clock  he  had  fully  intended  to 
make  the  usual  campaf.  the  Springs.  But  once  be 
fore,  within  a  few  years,  a  big  scouting  party  camp 
ing  in  the  gorge  of  the  Box  Elder  had  been  surprised 
by  one  of  those  sudden,  sweeping  storms,  and  before 
they  could  strike  tents,  pack  up  and  move  to  higher 
ground,  the  stream  took  matters  into  its  own  hands 
and  spared  them  all  further  trouble  on  that  score, 
distributing  camp  and  garrison  equipage  for  long 
leagues  away  to  the  east.  Two  miles  back,  trooper 
Carey,  who  had  been  complaining  of  severe  cramp 
and  pain  in  the  stomach,  begged  to  be  allowed  to 
fall  out  and  rest  awhile.  He  was  a  reliable  old 
soldier  when  whisky  was  not  winning  the  upper 
hand,  and  this  time  whisky  was  not  at  fault.  A 
dose  of  Jamaica  ginger  was  the  only  thing  their 
field  pharmacopoeia  provided,  and  Carey  rolled  out 
of  his  saddle  and  doubled  up  among  the  rocks  with 
his  hands  on  the  pit  of  his  stomach,  grimacing. 

"  Go  back  if  you  think  best,  or  come  ahead  and 
catch  us  at  the  Springs  if  well  enough,"  were  the 
orders  left  him,  while  the  men  pushed  on,  and  now, 
as  the  lieutenant  said,  Carey  was  coming  himself. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  1W 

Some  of  the  party  were  already  dozing  when  the 
sergeant's  sharp  order  "  Saddle  up  "  was  given,  but 
a  glance  at  the  lowering  sky  explained  it  all,  and 
every  man  was  standing  to  horse  and  ready  when 
the  missing  trooper  came  jogging  in  among  them, 
white,  peaked,  but  determined.  A  look  of  mingled 
disappointment  and  relief  appeared  on  his  face  as 
he  saw  the  preparations  for  the  start,  but  his  only 
comment  was,  "  I  can  make  it,  sir,"  as  he  saluted 
his  young  commander.  Less  than  two  hours  from 
the  time  they  unsaddled,  therefore,  the  troopers 
once  more  mounted,  and,  following  their  leader, 
filed  away  down  the  winding  gorge.  Presently 
there  came  the  low  rumble  of  thunder,  and  a  sweep 
of  the  rising  wind.  "  Trot,"  said  Dean,  and  without 
other  word  the  little  column  quickened  the  pace. 

The  ravine  grew  wider  soon  and  far  less  tortuous, 
but  was  still  a  narrow  and  dangerous  spot.  For  a 
mile  or  two  from  the  Springs  its  course  was  nearly 
east  of  north,  then  it  bore  away  to  the  northeast, 
and  the  Sweetwater  trail  abruptly  left  it  and  went 
winding  up  a  cleft  in  the  hills  to  the  west.  Just  as 
they  reached  this  point  the  heavens  opened  and  the 
clouds  descended  in  a  deluge  of  rain.  Out  came  the 
ponchos,  unstrapped  from  the  saddle,  and  every 
man's  head  popped  through  the  slit  as  the  shiny 
black  <'  shed  water"  settled  down  on  his  shoulders. 


180  WARttion  GAP. 

"  That  outfit  behind  us  will  get  a  soaking  if  it  has 
been  fool  enough  to  follow  down  to  the  Springs," 
said  Carey  to  the  sergeant,  as  they  began  the  pull 
up  the  slippery  trail. 

"  What  outfit  ?"  asked  Dean,  turning  in  the  saddle 
and  looking  back  in  surprise. 

A  blinding  flash  of  lightning,  followed  almost 
on  the  instant  by  the  crack  and  roar  of  thunder,  put 
summary  stop  to  talk  of  any  kind.  Men  and  horses 
bowed  their  heads  before  the  deluge  and  the  rain 
ran  in  streams  from  the  manes  and  tails.  The 
ascending  path  turned  quickly  into  a  running  brook 
and  the  black  forms  of  steeds  and  riders  struggled 
side  wise  up  the  grass-grown  slopes  in  search  of 
higher  ground.  The  heavens  had  turned  inky 
black.  The  gloomy  ravine  grew  dark  as  night. 
Flash  after  flash  the  lightning  split  the  gloom. 
Every  second  or  two  trooper  faces  gleamed  ghastly 
in  the  dazzling  glare,  then  as  suddenly  vanished. 
Horses  slipped  or  stumbled  painfully  and,  man  after 
man,  the  riders  followed  the  example  of  the  young 
soldier  in  the  lead  and,  dismounting,  led  their  drip 
ping  beasts  farther  up  the  steep  incline.  Halfway 
to  the  summit,  peering  through  the  wind-swept 
sheets  of  rain,  a  palisaded  clump  of  rocks  jutted  out 
from  the  heights  and,  after  a  hard  climb,  the  little 
band  found  partial  shelter  from  the  driving  storm, 


WAERIOR  GAP.  181 

and  huddled,  awe-stricken,  at  their  base.  Still  the 
lightning  played  and  the  thunder  cannonaded  with 
awful  resonance  from  crag  to  crag  down  the  deep 
gorge  from  which  they  had  clambered,  evidently 
none  too  soon,  for  presently,  far  down  the  black 
depths,  they  could  see  the  Box  Elder,  under  a  white 
wreath  of  foam,  tearing  in  fury  down  its  narrow 
bed. 

"Beg  pardon,  lieutenant,"  shouted  the  veteran 
sergeant  in  the  young  commander's  ear,  even  in 
that  moment  never  forgetting  the  habitual  salute, 
"  but  if  I  didn't  see  the  reason  for  that  sudden  order 
to  saddle  I  more  than  see  it  now.  "We  would  have 
been  drowned  like  rats  down  there  in  the  gulch." 

"I'm  wondering  if  anybody  has  drowned  like 
rats,"  shouted  Dean,  in  reply.  "  Carey  says  another 
party  was  just  behind  us.  Who  could  they  be?" 

But  for  answer  came  another  vivid,  dazzling  flash 
that  for  an  instant  blinded  all  eyes.  "  By  God ! 
but  that's  a  stunner!"  gasped  a  big  trooper,  and 
then  followed  the  deafening  bang  and  crash  of  the 
thunder,  and  its  echoes  went  booming  and  rever 
berating  from  earth  to  heaven  and  rolling  away, 
peal  after  peal,  down  the  bluff-bound  canon.  For  a 
moment  no  other  sound  could  be  heard ;  then,  as  it 
died  away  and  the  rain  came  swashing  down  in 
fresh  deluge,  Carey's  voice  overmastered  the  storm. 


182  WARRIOR  GAP. 

"  That's  struck  something,  sir,  right  around  yon 
der  by  the  Springs.  God  help  that  outfit  that  came 
a-gallopin'  after  me !" 

"What was  it?  "Which  way  were  they  coming?'5 
Dean  managed  to  ask. 

"  Eight  along  the  bluff,  sir,  to  the  east.  Seemed 
like  they  was  ridin'  over  from  the  old  camp  on  the 
Frayne  road.  There  was  twenty-five  or  thirty  of 
'em,  I  should  say,  coming  at  a  lope." 

"  Cavalry  ?"  asked  Dean,  a  queer  look  in  his 
face. 

"  No,  sir.  They  rode  dispersed  like.  They  was 
a  mile  away  when  I  sighted  them,  and  it  was  gittin' 
so  black  then  I  don't  think  they  saw  me  at  all. 
They  were  'bout  off  yonder,  half  a  mile  east  of  the 
Springs  when  I  dipped  down  into  the  ravine,  and 
what  seemed  queer  was  that  two  of  them  galloped  to 
the  edge,  dismounted,  and  were  peering  down  into 
the  gorge  like  so  many  Indians,  just  as  though  they 
didn't  want  to  be  seen.  I  was  goin'  to  tell  the  lieu 
tenant  'bout  it  first  thing  if  I  had  found  our  fellows 
off  their  guard,  but  you  were  all  mounted  and  just 
starting.' ' 

Instinctively  Dean  put  forth  his  hand  under  the 
dripping  poncho  and  tugged  at  the  straps  of  his  off 
saddle-bag.  No  need  for  dread  on  that  score.  The 
bulky  package,  wrapped,  sealed  and  cordedy  was 


WAHRTOH  CAP.  183 

bulging  out  of  the  side  of  his  field  pouch  till  it 
looked  as  though  he  had  crammed  a  cavalry  boot 
into  its  maw. 

"  Thirty  men — mounted  ? — no  wagons  or — any 
thing  ?"  he  anxiously  asked. 

"  Full  thirty,  sir,  and  every  man  armed  with  rifle 
as  far  as  I  could  see,"  said  Carey,  "  and  if  it  was  us 
they  was  after,  the^y'd  have  had  us  at  their  mercy 
down  in  that  pocket  at  the  Springs." 

A  shout  from  one  of  the  men  attracted  the  atten 
tion  of  the  leaders.  The  storm  had  spent  its  force 
and  gone  rolling  away  eastward.  The  thunder  was 
rumbling  far  over  toward  the  now  invisible  crest 
of  the  Black  Hills  of  Wyoming.  The  rain  sheets 
had  given  place  to  trickling  downpour.  A  dim 
light  was  stealing  into  the  blackness  of  the  gorge. 
Louder  and  fiercer  roared  the  Box  Elder,  lashing  its 
banks  with  foam.  And  then  came  the  cry  again. 

"  I  tell  you  it  is,  by  God !  for  there  goes  an 
other!" 

All  eyes  followed  the  direction  of  the  pointing 
finger.  All  eyes  saw,  even  though  dimly,  the  sad 
dled  form  of  a  horse  plunging  and  struggling  in  the 
flood,  making  vain  effort  to  clamber  out,  then 
whirling  helplessly  away — swept  out  of  sight  around 
the  shoulder  of  bluff,  and  borne  on  down  the  toss 
ing  waves  of  the  torrent.  Men  mean  no  irreverence 


184  WARRTOH  GAP. 

when  they  call  upon  their  Maker  at  such  times, 
even  in  soldier  oath.  It  is  awe,  not  blasphemy. 

"  By  God,  lieutenant,  that's  what  we'd  a  been  do 
ing  but  for  your  order."  It  was  the  sergeant  who 
spoke. 

And  at  that  very  hour  there  was  excitement  at 
Fort  Emory.  At  eight  o'clock  the  colonel  was  on 
his  piazza  looking  with  gloomy  eyes  over  the  distant 
rows  of  empty  barracks.  The  drum-major  with  the 
band  at  his  heels  came  stalking  out  over  the  grassy 
parade,  and  the  post  adjutant,  girt  with  sash  and 
sword-belt,  stood  in  front  of  his  office  awaiting  the 
se-rgeant-major,  who  was  unaccountably  delayed. 
Reduced  to  a  shadow,  the  garrison  at  Fort  Emory 
might  reasonably  have  been  excused,  by  this  time, 
from  the  ceremony  of  mounting  a  guard,  consisting 
practically  of  ten  privates,  three  of  whom  wore  the 
cavalry  jacket ;  but  old  "  Pecksniff  "  was  determined 
to  keep  up  some  show  of  state.  He  could  have  no 
parade  or  review,  but  at  least  he  could  require  his 
guard  to  be  mounted  with  all  the  pomp  and  cere 
mony  possible.  He  would  have  ordered  his  officers 
out  in  epaulets  and  the  full  dress  "  Kossuth"  hat  of 
the  period,  but  epaulets  had  been  discarded  during 
the  war  and  not  yet  resumed  on  the  far  frontier.  So 
the  rank  and  file  alone  were  called  upon  to  appear 
in  the  black-feathered  oddity  a  misguided  staff  had 


WARRIOR  GAP.  185 

designed  as  the  headgear  of  the  army.  "  Peck 
sniff's"  half-dozen  doughboys,  therefore,  with  their 
attendant  sergeants  and  corporals  in  the  old  fash 
ioned  frock  and  felt,  and  a  still  smaller  squad  of 
troopers  in  yellow-trimmed  jackets  and  brass- 
mounted  forage  caps,  were  drawn  up  at  the  edge  of 
the  parade  awaiting  the  further  signal  of  adjutant's 
call,  while  the  adjutant  himself  swore  savagely  and 
sent  the  orderly  on  the  run  for  the  sergeant-major. 
"When  that  clock-governed  functionary  was  missing 
something  indeed  must  be  going  wrong. 

Presently  the  orderly  came  running  back. 

"  Sergeant  Dineen  isn't  home,  sir,  and  his  wife 
says  he  hasn't  been  back  since  the  lieutenant  sent 
him  in  town  with  the  last  dispatch." 

"  Tell  the  first  sergeant  of  "  B  "  Company,  then,  to 
act  as  sergeant-major  at  once,"  said  the  adjutant, 
and  hurried  over  to  his  colonel.  u  Dineen's  not 
back,  sir,"  he  reported  at  the  gate.  "  Can  anything 
be  wrong?" 

"  I  ordered  him  to  bring  with  him  the  answer  to 
my  dispatch  to  the  general,  who  wired  to  me  from 
the  railway  depot  at  Cheyenne.  Probably  he's  been 
waiting  for  that,  and  the  general's  away  some 
where.  We  ought  to  have  an  operator  here  day 
and  night,"  said  Pecksniff  petulantly.  But  the 
irritation  in  his  eyes  gave  way  to  anxiety  wrhen  at 


186  WARRIOR  GAP. 

that  moment  the  sutler's  buggy  was  seen  clashing 
into  the  garrison  at  headlong  speed,  his  smart 
trotter  urged  almost  to  a  run.  Griggs  reined  up 
with  no  little  hard  pulling  at  the  colonel's  gate,  and 
they  could  see  a  dozen  yards  off  that  his  face  was 
pale. 

"  Have  you  any  idea,  colonel,"  he  began  the 
moment  the  officers  reached  him,  "  where  Major 
Burleigh  can  be  ?  He  left  the  depot  somewhere 
about  three  o'clock  this  morning  with  that  Captain 
JSTewhall.  He  hasn't  returned  and  can't  be  found. 
Your  sergeant-major  was  waylaid  and  robbed  some 
time  after  midnight,  and  John  Folsom  was  picked 
up  senseless  in  the  alley  back  of  his  house  two 
hours  ago.  What  does  it  all  mean  ?" 


WARRIOR  GAP,  187 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THAT  storrn-burst  along  the  range  had  turned  for 
twenty-four  hours  every  mountain  stream  into  a 
foaming  torrent  for  a  hundred  miles.  Not  a  bridge 
remained  along  the  Platte.  Not  a  ford  was  fordable 
within  two  days'  march  of  either  Emory  or  Frayne. 
Not  a  courier  crossed  the  Box  Elder,  going  either 
way,  until  the  flood  went  down,  and  then  it  trans 
pired  that  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men  had  also 
turned,  and  that  there  was  trouble  ahead  for  some 
who  had  thought  to  find  plain  sailing.  For  two 
days  watchers  along  the  lower  Box  Elder  dragged 
out  upon  the  shallows  the  bodies  of  horses  that  once 
upon  a  time  might  have  borne  the  "  II.  S."  brand, 
but  were  not  girthed  with  cavalry  saddles  now. 
Nor  were  there  lacking  other  bodies  to  prove  that 
the  victims  of  the  sudden  storm  were  not  Uncle 
Sam's  men,  much  as  two,  at  least,  of  the  drowned 
had  been  wanted  by  Federal  authorities  but  a  week 
before.  What  the  denizens  of  Gate  City  and  Fort 
Emory  dreaded  and  expected  to  bear  was  that  Deara. 


388  WARRIOR  GAP. 

and  his  little  party  had  been  caught  in  the  trap. 
But,  living  or  dead,  not  a  sign  of  them  remained 
along  the  storm-swept  ravine.  What  most  people 
of  Gate  City  and  Fort  Emory  could  not  understand 
was  the  evidence  that  a  big  gang  of  horse  thieves, 
desperadoes  and  renegades  had  suddenly  appeared 
about  the  new  town,  had  spurred  away  northward 
in  the  night,  had  kept  the  Frayne  road  till  they 
reached  the  Box  Elder,  riding  hard  long  after  sun 
up,  and  there,  reinforced,  they  had  gone  westward 
to  the  Sweet  water  trail,  and,  old  frontiersmen 
though  they  were,  had  been  caught  in  the  whirl  of 
water  at  Canon  Springs,  losing  two  of  their  num 
ber  and  at  least  a  dozen  of  their  horses.  What  could 
have  lured  them  into  that  gloomy  rift  at  such  a 
time?  What  inspiration  had  led  Dean  out  of  it? 

Singly  or  in  little  squads,  many  of  them  afoot, 
bedraggled,  silent,  chagrined,  the  "  outfit/'  described 
by  Trooper  Carey  had  slunk  away  from  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  Box  Elder  as  soon  as  the  storm  sub 
sided.  Solemnly,  as  befitted  soldiers,  silent  and 
and  alert  despite  their  dripping  accoutrements,  the 
little  detachment  of  cavalry  had  pushed  ahead, 
riding  by  compass  over  the  drenched  uplands, 
steering  for  the  Sweet  water.  Late  in  the  after 
noon  the  skies  had  cleared,  the  sun  came  out, 
and  they  camped  in  a  bunch  of  cottonwoods 


WARRIOR  GAP.  ISO 

on  the  old  Casper  trail  and  slept  the  sleep  of 
the  just  and  the  weary.  Early  next  clay  they 
hastened  on,  reaching  the  usually  shallow  stream, 
with  Devil's  Gate  only  a  few  miles  away,  before 
the  setting  of  a  second  sun.  Here  they  feasted  and 
rested  well,  and  before  the  dawn  was  fairly  red  on 
the  third  day  out  from  Emory  they  were  breasting 
the  turbid  waters  and  by  noon  had  left  the  valley 
far  to  the  south  and  were  well  out  toward  the  Big 
Horn  country,  where  it  behooved  them  to  look 
warily  ahead,  for  from  every  ridge,  though  far  to 
the  west  of  their  probable  raiding  ground,  Dean 
and  his  men  could  expect  to  encounter  scouting 
parties  of  the  Indians  at  any  moment,  and  one  false 
step  meant  death. 

The  third  night  passed  without  alarm,  though 
every  eye  and  ear  was  strained.  The  morning  of 
the  fourth  day  dawned  and  the  sun  soon  tinged  the 
misty  mountain  tops  to  the  far  north,  and  Dean  saw 
before  him  an  open  rolling  country,  over  which  it 
would  be  impossible  to  march  without  attracting  In 
dian  eyes,  if  Indian  eyes  there  were  within  twenty 
miles.  And  with  proper  caution  he  ordered  his 
men  to  keep  in  concealment,  horses  grazing  under 
guard  in  a  deep  depression  near  a  stream,  men 
dozing  soundly  by  turns  until  the  twilight  came, 
and  then  the  stars — their  night  lights  for  a  long, 


190  WAfiRtoti  GAP. 

long  march.  Dawn  of  the  fifth  day  found  them 
huddled  in  a  deep  ravine  of  the  southern  foothills, 
with  Warrior  Gap  not  thirty  miles  away,  and  now, 
indeed,  was  prudence  necessary,  for  the  faint  light 
showed  the  fresh  prints  of  innumerable  pony  hoofs 
on  every  side.  They  were  close  on  Machpealota'a 
lurking  braves.  Which  would  see  the  other  first? 

It  must  have  been  somewhere  toward  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  that  Dean,  searching  with  his 
field  glass  the  sunlit  slopes  far  out  to  the  east, 
heard  the  voice  of  his  sergeant  close  at  hand  and 
turned  to  answer.  Up  to  this  moment,  beyond  the 
pony  tracks,  not  a  sign  had  they  seen  of  hostile  In 
dians,  but  the  buffalo  that  had  appeared  in  scattered 
herds  along  their  line  of  march  were  shy  and  scary, 
and  old  hands  said  that  that  meant  they  had 
recently  been  hunted  hard.  Moreover,  this  was  not 
a  section  favored  of  the  buffalo.  There  was  much 
alkali  and  sage  brush  along  their  trail,  and  only 
here  and  there  in  scanty  patches  any  of  the  rich, 
nutritious  bunch  grass  which  the  roving  animals  so 
eagerly  sought.  The  day  had  been  hot  and  almost 
cloudless.  The  shimmer  of  heat  along  the  lazy  roll 
of  the  land  to  the  south  had  often  baffled  their 
blinking  eyes.  But  now  the  sun  was  well  to  the 
west,  and  the  refraction  seemed  diminishing,  and 
away  over  to  the  northeast  a  dull-colored  cloud 


WA&RlOR  GAP. 


seemed  slowly  rising  beyond  the  ridges.  It  was 
this  that  Sergeant  Bruce  was  studying  when  he 
murmured  to  his  young  commander  : 

"  I  think  that  means  a  big  herd  on  the  run,  sir, 
and  if  so  Indians  started  them." 

One  or  two  troopers,  dozing  close  at  hand, 
sprawled  full  length  upon  the  ground,  with  their 
faces  buried  in,  or  hidden  by,  their  blue-sleeved 
arms,  slowly  rolled  over  and  came  crouching  up 
alongside.  Dean  dropped  his  glasses  and  peered  in 
the  direction  indicated  by  his  comrade  of  humbler 
rank.  Dust  cloud  it  was  beyond  a  doubt,  and  a 
long  peep  through  the  binocular  proved  that  it  was 
slowly  sailing  across  the  horizon  in  a  northerly 
direction.  Did  that  mean  that  the  red  hunters 
were  driving  the  great  quarry  toward  the  village 
of  the  Sioux,  or  that  the  young  men  were  out  in 
force,  and  with  the  full  complement  of  squaws  and 
ponies,  were  slaughtering  on  the  run.  If  the  former, 
then  Dean  and  his  party  would  be  wise  to  turn  east 
ward  and  cross  the  trail  of  the  chase.  If  the  latter 
they  would  stand  better  chance  of  slipping  through 
to  the  Gap  by  pushing  northward,  deeper  in  among 
the  pine-crested  heights. 

Behind  the  watchers,  well  down  in  the  ravine,  the 
horses  were  placidly  nibbling  at  the  scant  herbage, 
or  lazily  sprawling  in  the  sun,  each  animal  securely 


192  WARRIOR  GAP. 

hoppled,  and  all  carefully  guarded  by  the  single 
trooper,  whose  own  mount,  ready  Saddled,  circled 
within  the  limits  of  the  stout  lariat,  looped  about 
his  master's  wrist.  All  spoke  of  caution,  of  lively 
sense  of  danger  and  responsibility,  for  they  of  the 
little  detachment  were  picked  men,  who  had  ridden 
the  warpath  too  long  not  to  realize  that  there  was 
no  such  thing  as  trusting  to  luck  in  the  heart  of  the 
Indian  country,  especially  when  Machpealota  with 
his  Ogallalla  braves  was  out  for  business.  The 
cautious  movements  of  the  group  along  the  bank 
had  quickly  been  noted  by  the  wakeful  ones  among 
the  troopers,  and  presently  the  entire  party,  except 
ing  only  the  herd  guard,  had  crouched  up  alongside, 
and  with  the  comradeship  born  of  such  perilous 
service,  were  now  discussing  the  situation  in  low, 
confidential  tones. 

For  half  an  hour  they  lay  there,  studying  the 
signs  to  the  northeast.  The  dun  colored  cloud  hung 
low  over  the  earth  for  a  distance  of  several  miles. 
The  herd  was  evidently  one  of  unusual  size  even  for 
those  days  when  the  buffalo  swarmed  in  countless 
thousands,  and  finally  the  sergeant  spoke  again. 

"  It's  a  big  hunt,  lieutenant.  Whatever  may  be 
going  on  about  the  Gap  they've  found  time  to  send 
out  young  men  enough  to  round  up  most  of  the 
buffalo  north  of  the  Platte  and  drive  them  in 


WARRIOR  GAP.  193 

toward  the  mountains.  It's  combining  pleasure 
with  business.  They  don't  feel  strong  enough  in 
number,  perhaps,  to  make  another  attempt  on 
troops  armed  with  breech-loaders,  so  while  they're 
waiting  until  their  reinforcements  come,  or  their 
own  breech-loaders,  they  are  herding  the  buffalo 
where  they  can  get  them  when  they  want  them 
later  on.  We  are  in  big  luck  that  no  stragglers  are 
anywhere  around  us  ;  if  they  were  it  wouldn't  take 
such  fellows  long  to  spy  us  out." 

Dean  swept  the  ridge  line  with  his  glass.  No 
sign  of  life  nearer  than  that  far-away,  betraying 
dust  cloud.  No  symptom  of  danger  anywhere  with 
in  their  ken.  He  was  thinking  at  the  moment  of 
that  precious  package  in  his  saddle-bags  and  the 
colonel's  words  impressing  him  with  the  sense  of 
responsibility  the  night  they  parted  at  Fort  Emory. 
To-morrow,  by  sunrise,  if  fortune  favored  him,  he 
could  turn  it  over  to  the  commanding  officer  at  the 
new  stockade,  and  then  if  the  Indians  were  not 
gathered  in  force  about  the  post  and  actually  hostile, 
he  could  slip  out  again  at  night  and  make  swift 
dash  for  the  Platte  and  the  homeward  way,  and 
then  within  the  week  rejoin  his  sister  at  Fort  Emory 
— his  sister  and  "Pappoose."  Never  before  had 
the  Indian  pet  name  carried  such  significance  as 
now.  Night  and  day  those  soft,  dark  eyes — that 


194  WARRIOR  GAP. 

beautiful  face— haunted  his  thoughts  and  filled  his 
young  heart  with  new  and  passionate  longing,  it 
was  hard  to  have  to  leave  the  spot  her  presence 
made  enchanted  ground.  Nothing  but  the  spur  of 
duty,  the  thrill  of  soldier  achievement  and  stirring 
venture  could  have  reconciled  him  to  that  unwel- 
come  order. 

In  one  week  now,  if  fortune  favored  and  heaven 
spared,  he  could  hope  to  look  again  into  the  eyes 
that  had  so  enchained  him,  but  if  there  should  inter 
pose  the  sterner  lot  of  the  frontier,  if  the  Sioux 
should  learn  of  his  presence,  he  who  had  thwarted 
Burning  Star  and  the  brothers  of  poor  Lizette  in 
their  schemes  of  vengeance,  he  at  whose  door  the 
Ogallallas  must  by  this  time  have  laid  the  death  of 
one  of  their  foremost  braves,  then  indeed  would 
there  be  no  hope  of  getting  back  without  a  battle 
royal.  There  was  only  one  chance  of  safety — that 
the  Indians  should  not  discover  their  presence.  If 
they  did  and  realized  who  the  intruders  were, 
Jessie  Dean  might  look  in  vain  for  her  brother's 
return.  Pappoose  would  never  hear  the  love  words 
that,  trembling  on  his  lips  the  night  he  left  her,  had 
been  poured  out  only  to  that  unresponsive  picture. 
Two  ways  there  were  in  which  the  Indians  could 
know  of  his  presence.  One  by  being  informed 
through  some  half-breed  spy,  lurking  about  Frayne; 


GAP,  195 

but  then  who  would  be  dastard  enough  to  send  such 
word  ?  The  other  by  being  seen  and  recognized  by 
some  of  the  Ogallalla  band,  and  thus  far  he  believed 
they  had  come  undetected,  and  it  was  now  after 
five  o'clock — after  five  o'clock  and  all  was  well.  In 
a  few  hours  they  could  again  be  on  their  starlit 
way.  "With  the  morrow  they  should  be  safely 
within  the  gates  of  the  new  stockade  at  Warrior 
Gap. 

Turning  with  hope  and  relief  in  his  face  to  speak 
to  Sergeant  Bruce,  who  lay  there  at  his  elbow,  he 
saw  the  blue-sleeved  arm  stretching  forth  in  warn 
ing  to  lie  low,  and  with  grave  eyes  the  veteran  was 
gazing  straight  at  a  little  butte  that  rose  from  the 
rolling  surface  not  more  than  half  a  mile  away  to 
the  southeast. 

"  Lieutenant,"  he  whispered,  "  there  are  Indians 
back  of  that  hill  at  this  minute,  and  it  isn't  buffalo 
they're  laying  for." 

Dean  was  brave.  He  had  been  tried  and  his 
mettle  was  assured,  and  yet  he  felt  the  sudden  chill 
that  coursed  his  veins.  "  How  can  they  have  seen 
us,"  he  murmured. 

"  May  have  struck  our  trail  out  to  the  southwest," 
said  Bruce  slowly,  "  or  they  may  have  been  told  of 
our  coming  and  are  stalking  us.  They've  got  a 
heavy  score  to  settle  with  this  troop,  you  know," 


196  WAKKTOR  GAP. 

For  a  moment  only  the  breathing  of  the  little 
party  could  be  heard.  All  eye?  were  fixed  upon  the 
distant  mound.  At  last  Dean  spoke  again. 

"  When  did  you  see  them  first  and  how  many  are 
there  1" 

"  Near  ten  minutes  ago.  I  saw  something  flutter 
ing  swift  along  the  sky  line  just  beyond  that  divide 
to  the  south.  It  skimmed  like  a  bird,  all  but  the 
quick  bobbing  up  and  down  that  made  me  sure 
there  was  a  galloping  pony  under  it.  Then  another 
skimmed  along.  It  was  the  bunch  of  feathers  and 
red  flannel  on  their  lances,  and  my  belief  is  that 
they  struck  our  trail  back  here  somewhere,  and 
that  there's  only  a  small  party,  and  they  don't 
know  just  who  we  are  and  they  want  to  find  out." 

"  You're  right.  Look !"  was  Dean's  sudden 
answer,  for  at  the  very  instant  there  rode  boldly, 
calmly  into  full  view  two  young  Indians,  who  with 
cool  deliberation  came  jogging  on  at  gentle  speed, 
straight  toward  the  concealed  bivouac  of  the  troop 
ers.  Instantly  Bruce  reached  for  his  carbine,  and 
two  or  three  of  the  men  went  sliding  or  crouching 
backward  down  the  slope  as  though  in  quest  of 
their  arms.  Full  eight  hundred  yards  away  were 
the  riders  at  the  moment,  coming  side  by  side  in 
apparent  unconcern. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  197 

"  Don't,"  muttered  Dean,  with  hand  outstretched. 
"  They  look  anything  but  hostile." 

"  That's  when  they're  most  likely  to  be  full  of 
hell,  sir,"  was  the  prompt  answer.  "  See !  others 
are  watching  behind  that  knoll,"  and  indeed  as 
Bruce  declared,  a  feather-decked  head  or  two  could 
be  detected  through  the  glass,  peering  over  the 
summit. 

"  Warn  them  to  halt,  then,"  cried  Dean.  "  But 
we  cannot  fire  unless  they  provoke  it." 

Bruce  was  on  his  feet  in  a  second.  Standing  erect 
and  facing  straight  toward  the  coming  pair,  he  raised 
his  right  hand,  palm  to  the  front,  to  the  full  length 
of  his  arm,  and  slowly  motioned  "  stand."  Every 
plainsman  knows  the  signal.  In  well-acted  surprise, 
the  Indians  reined  their  ponies  flat  back,  and, 
shading  their  eyes  with  their  hands  a  moment,  re 
mained  motionless.  Then,  as  with  one  accord,  each 
tossed  aside  his  rifle,  and  one  of  them  further  lifted 
high  and  displayed  a  revolver.  This,  too,  he  tossed 
out  on  the  turf,  and  now  with  both  arms  bare  and 
extended  on  high,  with  empty  hands  outspread, 
they  slowly  advanced  as  though  saying  "  See,  we 
are  without  arms.  We  come  as  brothers." 

But  the  sergeant  never  hesitated.  Almost  on  tip 
toe  he  repeated  the  signal  "halt,"  and  half-turned 
imploringly  to  his  officer. 


198  WARRIOR  OAP. 

"  It  &  all  a  bluff,  sir.  They  want  to  crawl  upon  us, 
see  who  and  how  many  we  are.  Let  some  of  us  fire 
warning  shots  or  come  they  will,  and  the  moment 
they  find  out  who  we  are,  away  they'll  ride  to 
bring  Ked  Cloud  and  all  his  bucks  about  our  ears.'5 

"  I  cannot  fire,"  was  the  answer.  "  That's  their 
flag  of  truce  and  we  must  not  ignore  it.  Let  them 
come,  sergeant ;  Til  meet  them." 


WARRIOR  GAP.  199 


CHAPTER  XVDI. 

REMONSTRANCE  on  part  of  his  men  would  have 
been  a  violation  of  their  rules  of  order.  Obedient 
to  the  lieutenant's  instructions,  Sergeant  Bruce, 
with  evident  reluctance,  lowered  his  hand.  "Who 
ever  these  Indians  were  they  well  understood  the 
principles  that  governed  civilized  warfare.  They 
well  knew  that  the  white  soldiers  would  respect  a 
flag  of  truce,  though  in  their  own  vernacular  they 
referred  to  the  sacred  emblem  only  as  a  "  fool  flag," 
and  sometimes  used  it,  as  did  the  Modocs  five  years 
later,  to  lure  officers  into  ambush  and  deliberately 
murder  them.  They  knew  the  white  soldiers  would 
take  no  advantage  of  foemen  gathered  for  a  con 
ference  or  parley,  and  thus  far  the  Sioux  themselves 
had  observed  the  custom  which  the  Modocs  basely 
violated  when  in  cold  blood  they  slaughtered  Gen 
eral  Canby  and  the  peace  commissioners  sent  to 
treat  with  them.  Confidently,  therefore,  came  the 
two  young  warriors,  but  as  Dean  raised  himseLf 


200  WARRIOR  GAP. 

from  tne  ground  and  was  about  to  step  forward,  the 
sergeant  spoke : 

"  Beg  pardon,  sir,  but  these  fellows  know  all  our 
officers.  They  would  recognize  you  at  once.  The 
word  would  go  to  Red  Cloud  faster  than  any  pony 
could  gallop.  Let  me  meet  them,  or  let  one  of  the 
men." 

The  ponies  were  coming  at  the  lope  now,  and  not 
an  instant  was  to  be  lost.  The  safety  of  his  com 
mand  might  possibly  depend  on  their  not  being 
recognized  as  of  the  troop  before  whose  carbines 
Chaska,  brother  to  Lizette,  had  met  his  death. 

"  Perhaps  you're  right,"  said  Dean.  "  Halt  them 
again.  Conroy,  you  go  with  Sergeant  Bruce." 

Eagerly  a  young  trooper,  carbine  in  hand,  sprang 
up  and  stood  by  the  sergeant's  side  as  the  latter 
repeated  his  warning  signal.  Obediently,  yet  not 
too  promptly,  showing  evident  desire  to  get  where 
they  could  peer  over  into  the  ravine  and  count  the 
number  of  the  white  men  and  horses,  the  Indians 
again  drew  rein,  this  time  barely  one  hundred  yards 
away.  Then  Bruce  and  Conroy,  holding  up  their 
emptied  hands,  strode  forward  along  the  grassy 
slope,  making  the  further  sign,  "  Dismount." 

In  those  days  few  of  our  cavalry  wore,  when  on 
Indian  campaign,  the  forage-cap  with  its  crossed 
sabres  and  distinguishing  letters.  Nothing  in  the 


WARRIOR  GAP.  201 

dress  or  accoutrements  of  the  two  men  thus  ad 
vancing  to  meet  the  Indian  emissaries  would  give 
to  the  latter  any  clew  as  to  the  troop  or  regiment 
to  which  they  belonged.  Could  they  see  the  horses, 
however,  the  matter  would  be  settled  at  once.  The 
U.  S.  brand,  with  that  of  the  number  of  the  regi 
ment  and  letter  of  the  troop  showed  on  every 
cavalry  mount  in  the  service,  and  the  Ogallallas 
knew  the  earmarks  of  two,  at  least,  of  our  cavalry 
regiments  in  '68  as  well  as  they  did  the  cut  of  their 
own  hair.  But  in  the  modesty  of  the  non-commis 
sioned  officer  Bruce  had  underrated  his  own  prom 
inence  in  Indian  eyes.  Not  only  did  these  keen 
observers  know  every  officer  by  sight,  and  have  for 
him  some  distinguishing  name  of  their  own,  but 
many  a  trooper,  easily  singled  out  from  his  fellows 
because  of  his  stature,  or  the  color  of  his  hair,  or 
some  other  physical  peculiarity,  was  as  well  known 
as  his  captain  or  lieutenant,  and  Bruce,  ex-trooper 
of  the  Scots  Greys,  and  now  a  model  sergeant  of 
Yankee  cavahy,  was  already  a  marked  man  in  the 
eyes  of  the  southern  Sioux.  Brule,  Minneconjou 
and  Ogallalla  knew  him  well — his  aquiline  beak,  to 
which  the  men  would  sometimes  slyly  allude,  hav 
ing  won  him  the  Indian  appellative  of  Posh  Kopee 
or  Big  Nose. 
Before  the  two  parties  came  within  fifty  yards  of 


202  WARRIOR  GAP. 

each  other,  therefore,  watchers  along  the  ravine  saw 
the  quick  exchange  of  significant  glances  between  the 
young  braves.  "  Twig  that  ?"  whispered  Trooper 
Blaine,  in  low,  emphatic  tone.  "  Those  fellows 
know  '  Scotty '  just  as  well  as  we  do." 

All  the  same,  leaving  their  trained  ponies  to 
nibble  at  the  scanty  bunch  grass,  the  two  came 
straight  forward  with  extended  hands  and  cordial 
"  How,  colah !"  on  their  lips,  one  of  them  adding, 
in  agency  English,  "Want  talk  chief.  Indian 
poor.  Heap  sick."  (And  here  he  clasped  his 
stomach  with  both  hands.)  "  Want  coffee,  sugar, 
bread." 

"All  right,"  said  Bruce  promptly,  noting  the 
while  how  the  roving  black  eyes  searched  the  edge 
of  the  ravine.  "  Stay  here.  Don't  come  nearer. 
You  got  buffalo  meat  ?" 

A  grunt  was  the  reply  of  one,  a  guttural  "  Buf 
falo,  yes,"  the  answer  of  the  other. 

"  Bring  tongues,  then,"  and  Bruce  touched  his 
own.  "  Five,"  and  he  threw  forward  the  outspread 
right  hand,  rapidly  touching  in  succession  the 
thumb  and  four  fingers.  "  We  give  both  hands  full 
— coffee,  sugar,  hardtack,"  and  Bruce  illustrated  as 
he  spoke.  "  That's  all !"  he  finished  abruptly,  with 
the  well-known  Indian  sign  that  plainly  tells  "I 
have  spoken — there  is  nothing  more  to  say,"  then 


WARRIOR  GAP.  203 

calmly  turned  his  back  and,  bidding  Conroy  follow, 
started  to  return  to  his  comrades  at  the  ravine. 

But  Indian  diplomacy  was  unsatisfied.  The  Sioux 
had  found  "  Big  Nose  "  to  be  one  of  the  soldiers  in 
the  field.  He,  at  least,  was  of  the  hated  troop  that 
fought  and  chased  Burning  Star  and  killed  Chaska. 
The  trail  told  them  there  were  nearly  a  dozen  in 
the  party,  all  on  shod  horses,  with  two  in  lead — 
spare  mounts  or  pack-horses,  doubtless — so  they  had 
extra  rations  and  had  come  far ;  but  why  were  they 
going  this  way,  so  far  west  of  the  usual  road  to  the 
Big  Horn  posts  ?  Why  were  they  so  few  in  num 
ber?  Where  were  the  rest?  Why  were  they 
hiding  here  in  the  ravine,  instead  of  marching? 
Answer  to  this  last  question  was  easy  enough.  It 
was  to  keep  out  of  sight  of  Indian  eyes  and  needed 
no  excuse.  There  was  something  behind  this 
mysterious  presence  of  ten  or  twelve  soldiers  in  the 
southern  foothills,  and  Machpealota  would  expect 
of  his  scouts  full  information,  hence  the  instant 
movement  on  the  part  of  one  of  the  two  braves  to 
follow. 

Impressively,  Bruce  turned  again  and  waved  him 
back.  "  Go,  get  buffalo  tongue,"  said  he,  "  or  no 
trade.  Keep  away  from  our  tepees,"  and  he  drew 
with  his  spurred  boot-heel  a  jagged  line  across  the 
turf.  "  Your  side,"  said  he,  indicating  the  slope  to 


204  WARRIOR  GAP. 

the  southeast  of  the  line.  "This— ours.  That's 
all !"  And  this  time  the  Indian  knew  he  must  come 
no  nearer. 

"I've  got  'em  talking  trade,  lieutenant,"  reported 
Bruce,  the  instant  he  reached  Dean's  side.  "We 
don't  need  the  tongues,  but  we've  got  more  coffee 
and  sugar  than  we  are  apt  to  want,  and  at  least  we 
can  keep  them  interested  until  dark,  then  we  can 
slip  away.  Of  course,  they've  sent  word  to  their 
main  body  that  we're  over  here,  but  I  believe  they 
can't  come  in  force  before  night." 

"  They  knew  you,  sergeant,  and  they  know  it  is 
probably  our  troop,"  said  he.  "  There  must  be  only 
a  small  party  near  us.  Make  your  trade,  but  while 
you're  doing  it  we'll  saddle.  I  mean  to  get  out  of 
this  and  into  the  thick  of  the  timber  before  they 
can  surround  us.  Stand  'em  off,  now,  while  we  get 
ready." 

Promises  must  be  kept  when  made  to  an  Indian, 
even  if  they  are  otherwise  sometimes  broken.  In 
ten  minutes,  with  coffee,  sugar  and  hardtack  in 
their  hands,  the  sergeant  and  his  comrades  were 
back  at  the  front.  One  brave  was  still  there,  the 
other  had  vanished.  Five  minutes,  neither  party 
saying  a  word,  the  troopers  waited ;  then  Bruce 
turned  to  Conroy.  "  I  knew  they  had  nothing  to 
trade.  Take  this  sack  with  you  and  fall  back.  Tell 


WARRIOR  GAP.  205 

our  fellows  to  keep  me  well  covered  till  I  follow." 
The  instant  the  soldier  started  with  the  saek  swung 
over  his  shoulder,  the  Indian,  who  had  been  squatted 
on  the  turf,  sprang  up  and  began  rapid  expostulation 
in  fluent  Ogallalla.  "  It's  no  use,  young  man,"  in 
terposed  Bruce.  "  Your  chum  there  has  no  buffalo 
tongues,  and  he  knew  it.  Here's  some  hardtack  for 
you,"  and  he  spread  one  liberally  with  sugar  and 
handed  it  to  the  ever-receptive  paw,  outstretched  to 
grasp  it.  A  glance  over  the  shoulder  showed  that 
Conroy  was  nearly  at  the  edge.  Then,  quietly,  Bruce, 
too,  began  to  retire.  He  had  not  got  ten  paces,  still 
facing  his  unwelcome  visitor,  when  the  Indian  gave  a 
shrill,  sudden  cry  and  tossed  up  his  hands.  Not 
a  second  too  soon  Bruce  turned  and  darted  for 
cover.  The  Indian  flung  himself  flat  on  the  turf 
and  rolled  away  into  a  depression  where  he  could 
find  partial  shelter  from  bullets  from  the  ravine, 
whence  he  evidently  looked  for  them,  and  out  from 
behind  the  knoll,  bridles  held  high,  "  quirts  "  lashing 
at  their  ponies'  flanks,  darted  half  a  dozen  painted 
savages,  tearing  down  upon  the  spot  at  the  top 
speed  of  their  agile  mounts.  Only  two  men  re 
mained  on  watch  at  the  moment,  Dean  and  one 
trooper.  Most  of  the  others,  already  in  saddle,  were 
filing  away  up  the  game  trail  that  threaded  the 
windings  of  the  ravine,  the  two  lead  horses  with 


206  WARRIOR  GAP. 

them,  while  a  few  yards  behind  the  young  officer 
and  his  comrade,  halfway  (town  the  reverse  slope, 
two  others,  afoot,  handled  the  reins  of  their  own 
horses  and  those  of  the  lieutenant  and  men  still  held 
at  the  edge.  It  was  an  exciting  moment.  Bruce 
had  only  a  hundred  yards  to  run  before  he  could 
get  under  cover,  and  there  was  no  chance  of  their 
hitting  him  at  that  range,  yet  a  puff  of  smoke  rose 
from  the  knoll,  and  a  bullet,  nearly  spent,  came 
tumbling  and  singing  up  the  turf,  and  the  dashing 
warriors,  yelling  wildly,  applauded  the  shot.  Bruce 
took  matters  coolly.  Leaping  behind  the  shelter  of 
the  ledge,  he  reached  for  his  carbine,  and  in  a  moment 
more,  as  the  pursuing  Indians  came  lashing  within 
long  range,  four  seasoned  cavalry  carbines,  each 
with  a  keen  eye  at  the  sight  and  a  steady  finger  at 
the  trip,  were  leveled  on  the  coming  foe.  Dean's 
young  heart  beat  hard,  it  must  be  owned,  for  hith 
erto  the  Indians  had  been  fighting  in  retreat  or  on 
the  defensive,  while  now  they  came  as  though  con 
fident  of  success ;  but  there  was  soldier  exultation 
and  something  like  savage  joy  mingling  with  the 
thrill  of  excitement. 

"  There's  more  behind  those  beggars,  sir,"  growled 
Conroy,  a  veteran  at  Indian  work,  "but  they'll 
sheer  off  when  they  get  within  three  hundred 
yards."  On  they  came,  shields  and  lances  dangling, 


WARRIOH  GAP. 


ponies  on  the  keen  jump,  feathers  and  pennons 
streaming  on  the  wind.  But,  just  as  Conroy  said, 
no  sooner  was  Bruce  safely  under  cover  and  they 
felt  themselves  drawing  within  dangerous  range 
than,  fan-like,  they  opened  out  to  right  and  left, 
and,  yelling  still  like  fiends,  veered  in  wide  circle 
from  their  line  of  attack,  and  ducking  over  their 
ponies'  shoulders,  clinging  with  one  leg  to  the  up 
right  part  of  the  cantle,  they  seemed  to  invite  the 
fire  of  their  white  foe  —  and  got  it.  A  daring 
fellow  in  the  lead  came  streaking  slantwise  across 
the  front,  as  though  aiming  to  pick  up  the  comrade 
lurking  in  the  dip  of  the  prairie-like  slope,  and  Con- 
roy's  carbine  was  the  first  to  bark,  followed  almost 
instantly  by  Dean's.  The  scurrying  pony  threw  up 
his  wall-eyed  head  and  lashed  with  his  feathered 
tail,  evidently  hit,  but  not  checked,  for  under  the 
whip  he  rushed  gamely  on  until  another  bullet, 
whistling  within  a  foot  of  his  neck,  warned  the  red 
rider  that  he  was  far  too  close  for  safety,  for  with 
halting  gait  the  pony  turned  and  labored  off  the 
field,  and  presently  was  seen  to  be  staggering. 
"  Score  one  for  our  side,"  laughed  the  Irishman,  in 
glee.  "  Now's  your  time,  sergeant." 

But  Bruce,  reloading,  was  gazing  sternly  at  the 
distant  knoll.  The  other  warriors,  riding  right  and 
left,  were  now  chasing  crosswise  over  the  billowy 


208  WARRIOR  GAP. 

slopes,  keeping  up  a  fire  of  taunt  and  chaff  and 
shrill  war-cries,  but  never  again  venturing  within 
three  hundred  yards — never  wasting  a  shot. 

"I  thought  so,"  suddenly  cried  the  sergeant. 
"They're  signaling  from  the  knoll.  They  never 
would  have  attacked  with  so  few,  unless  there  were 
dozens  more  within  sight.  Now's  our  time,  lieuten 
ant.  We  can  mount  and  ride  like  hell  to  the  tim 
ber — I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  he  broke  off  suddenly. 
"  I  didn't  mean  to  say  what  the  lieutenant  should 
do." 

"  No  apologies,"  laughed  Dean,  his  eyes  snapping 
with  the  vim  of  the  fight.  "  Glad  you  see  the  truth 
of  what  I  said.  Come  on.  Mount  quickly,  men." 

Two  minutes  more  and  the  entire  party  of  blue- 
coats  were  spurring  swiftly  northward  up  the  wind 
ing  gorge,  the  pack-horses  lumbering  alongside. 
Eagerly  Dean  and  Bruce  in  the  lead  looked  right 
and  left  for  a  game  trail  leading  up  the  slope,  for 
well  they  knew  that  the  moment  their  reinforce 
ments  came  the  warriors  would  dash  into  the  ravine 
and,  finding  their  antagonists  fled,  would  pursue 
along  the  banks.  It  would  never  do  to  be  caught 
in  such  a  trap.  A  gallop  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  and, 
off  to  the  right,  a  branch  ravine  opened  out  to 
higher  ground,  and  into  this  the  leaders  dove  and, 
checking  speed,  rode  at  the  trot  until  the  ascent 


WARRIOR  GAP.  209 

grew  steep.  Five  minutes  more  and  they  were  well 
up  toward  the  head  of  the  gulch  and  presently 
found  themselves  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  hillsides 
about  them.  Here,  too,  were  scattered  pine-trees 
and  a  few  scrub-oak.  The  timber,  then,  was  close  at 
hand.  Signaling  halt  to  the  climbing  column,  Dean 
and  Bruce,  springing  from  saddle,  scrambled  up  the 
bank  to  their  right  and  peered  cautiously  back  down 
over  the  tumbling  waves  of  the  foothills,  and  what 
they  saw  was  enough  to  blanch  the  cheek  of  even 
veteran  Indian  fighters. 

Far  over  to  the  east,  beyond  an  intervening  ridge 
and  under  the  dun  cloud  of  dust,  the  earth  was  black 
for  miles  with  herds  of  running  buffalo.  Far  down 
to  the  southeast,  here,  there  and  everywhere  over 
the  land,  the  slopes  were  dotted  with  little  knots  of 
Indian  braves — they  could  be  nothing  else — all 
riding  like  mad,  coming  straight  toward  them. 
Machpealota  probably  had  launched  his  whole  force 
on  the  trail  of  the  luckless  troopers. 


210  WARRIOR  GAP. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THAT  night  there  was  rejoicing  at  the  new  stock 
ade.  For  over  a  week  not  a  courier  had  managed  to 
slip  through  in  either  direction.  Alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  the  little  garrison,  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  post  away  up  at  the  gorge  of  the  Big  Horn  River 
had  sent  two  troops  of  cavalry  to  scout  the  slopes  of 
the  mountains  and  look  into  the  state  of  affairs  at 
"Warrior  Gap.  They  found  countless  fresh  pony 
tracks  all  along  the  foothills  east  of  the  Greasy  Grass 
and  in  the  valleys  of  the  many  forks  of  the  Deje 
Agie — the  Crow  name  for  Tongue  River — but  not 
an  Indian  did  they  see.  They  marched  in  among 
the  welcoming  officers  and  men  at  the  bustling  post 
to  find  themselves  hailed  as  heroes.  "  We've  been 
cut  off  from  the  world  for  at  least  ten  days,"  said 
the  commandant.  "  Our  couriers  have  been  killed, 
captured  or  driven  back.  Even  our  half-breed 
scouts  refuse  to  make  further  trial.  They  say  Red 
Cloud's  people  cover  the  land  in  every  direction. 
Our  woodchoppers  only  work  under  heavy  guard. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  211 

The  contractors,  freighters  and  workmen  threaten 
to  strike  unless  they  get  their  money.  The  sutler 
refuses  them  further  credit.  The  quartermaster  has 
paid  out  every  cent  and  says  his  requisition  for  ten 
thousand  dollars  was  ordered  filled,  and  the  money 
ought  to  have  been  here  a  week  ago.  All  will  have 
to  stop  if  the  money  doesn't  come.  We're  safe 
enough.  The  Sioux  don't  dare  come  within  range 
of  our  breechloaders.  But  we  can't  finish  the  bar 
racks  in  time  for  winter  at  this  rate." 

A  stout-hearted  soldier  was  the  commanding  offi 
cer  at  Warrior  Gap.  He  had  with  him  now  four 
strong  companies  of  infantry  and  a  troop  of  horse. 
He  had,  he  said,  but  one  anxiety,  so  far  as  holding 
the  fort  was  concerned — some  few  of  the  officers 
and  quite  a  number  of  the  soldiers,  as  has  been  told, 
were  burdened  with  their  wives  and  children.  If 
these  could  only  be  moved  under  strong  guard  to 
Frayne  on  the  Platte,  he  could  snap  his  fingers  in 
the  face  of  Red  Cloud  and  his  whole  gang  until  they 
too  got  breech-loaders.  "  It's  only  a  question  of 
time !"  said  he.  "  Sooner  or  later  the  Interior  De 
partment  will  be  fool  enough  to  arm  the  redskins 
all  over  the  land  with  magazine  rifles,  and  then 
there  will  be  lively  work  for  the  war  office.  Any 
day,"  said  he,  further,  "  we  may  expect  the  coming 
of  a  whole  regiment  from  the  Platte  posts,  and  then 


212  WARRIOR  GAP. 

Mr.  Lo  will  have  to  light  out.  Meantime,  if  we 
hadn't  this  trouble  about  the  workmen,  and  could 
get  rid  of  the  women  and  children,  we'd  be  all 
right." 

So  back  to  the  Big  Horn  rode  the  squadron  to 
report  all  safe  at  Warrior  Gap,  barring  the  blockade, 
and  almost  on  the  same  date  out  there  started  from 
Laramie,  on  the  long  march  up  the  Platte  and  over 
across  the  sage-covered  deserts,  a  strong  force  of 
foot  and  dragoons;  and  up  from  the  Sweetwater, 
far  to  the  southwest,  came  this  venturesome  little 
party  of  ten,  bringing  the  much-demanded  money, 
and  all  the  while,  with  his  far-riding,  far-seeing 
scouts  in  every  direction,  Machpealota,  perched  in 
the  mountains  back  of  the  building  post,  warily 
watched  the  dispositions  and  daily  work,  and  laid 
his  plans  accordingly.  Not  a  warrior  was  permitted 
to  show  himself  near  the  stockade,  but  in  a  sleepless 
cordon,  five  miles  out,  they  surrounded  the  Gap. 
Xot  a  messenger  had  managed  to  elude  their  vigi 
lance  by  day,  not  one  had  succeeded  in  slipping  into 
the  little  camp  by  night.  Yet,  with  every  succeed 
ing  morn  the  choppers  and  fatigue  parties  pushed 
farther  out  from  the  stockade,  in  growing  sense  of 
security,  and  the  Indians  let  them  come. 

Full  a  week  before  the  Laramie  column  could  pos 
sibly  reach  the  mountains,  however,  Ked  Cloud  was 


WARRIOR  GAP.  213 

warned  of  their  coming,  their  numbers,  and  compo 
sition — so  many  horse  soldiers,  so  many  "heap 
walks."  Unmolested,  the  squadron  from  Fort  C.  F. 
Smith,  the  Big  Horn  River  post,  was  permitted  to 
retrace  its  steps.  In  fancied  safety,  born  of  confi 
dence  in  that  wonderful  new  breech-loader,  the  little 
command  at  the  Gap  was  lulled  to  indifference  to 
their  surroundings.  Then,  sending  large  numbers 
of  his  young  men  to  round  up  the  buffalo  toward 
the  Platte,  but  keeping  still  his  stern  and  vengeful 
eye  upon  the  prey  almost  at  his  feet,  the  red  chief 
made  his  final  and  fatal  plans. 

There  came  a  cloudless  morning  when  the  cavalry 
troop  escorted  a  young  officer  up  the  rocky  heights 
to  the  west,  finding  everywhere  indications  of  recent 
Indian  occupancy,  but  not  a  redskin  barred  their 
way.  Without  opposition  of  any  kind,  without  so 
much  as  a  glimpse  of  the  foe,  were  they  permitted 
to  climb  to  Signal  Rock,  and  from  that  point,  with 
powerful  glasses,  the  officers  swept  the  glorious 
range  of  foothills,  the  deep  valley  of  the  Tongue, 
the  banks  of  the  Piney  and  the  Crazy  Woman,  the 
far-spreading  upland  prairie  rolling  away  like  some 
heaving  ocean  suddenly  turned  to  earth,  east  and 
southeast  to  the  dim  horizon,  and  there  they  saw,  or 
thought  they  saw,  full  explanation  of  their  recent 


214  WARRIOR  GAP. 

freedom  from  alarm  of  any  kind.  There  to  the 
south,  full  thirty  miles  away,  the  land  was  overlaid 
by  a  dull,  heavy,  dun-colored  cloud,  and  traversed 
by  black  streaks  or  blotches  that  were  recognized 
at  once  as  running  buffalo.  Eed  Cloud  and  his 
braves  then  were  drawn  away  in  search  of  other 
game,  and,  light  of  heart  and  foot,  the  troopers 
trotted  back  to  the  waiting  stockade,  to  meet  there 
late  that  evening,  as  the  weird  tattoo  of  the  drums 
and  fifes  was  echoing  back  from  the  rocky  heights, 
the  first  messenger  through  in  nearly  fifteen  days — 
a  half-breed  Sioux  from  the  distant  posts  along  the 
Platte,  bearing  a  written  message  from  the  com- 
manding  officer  at  Frayne,  which  the  veteran 
commandant  at  Warrior  Gap  read  with  infinite 
comfort : 

"  Seven  companies  of  infantry  and  three  more 
troops  of  cavalry  are  on  the  way  and  should  reach 
you  by  Saturday  week.  The  General  seems  thor 
oughly  alive  to  the  situation,  and  we,  too,  are  hoping 
for  orders  to  move  out  and  help  you  give  that  in 
fernal  old  scoundrel  the  thrashing  he  deserves.  All 
has  been  quiet  hereabouts  since  that  one  party  made 
its  dash  on  Hal  Folsom's  ranch.  Of  course  you 
know  the  story  of  Lizette,  and  of  course  Red  Cloud 
must  have  known  that  Burning  Star  was  head  devil 
in  that  enterprise,  though  Chaska  was  the  victim. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  215 

I  take  much  comfort  in  the  fact  that  it  was  I  who 
sent  young  Dean  and  his  troop  round  by  way  of  the 
Laramie.  Folsom  and  his  people  would  have  been 
murdered  to  a  man  if  I  hadn't,  and  yet  I  hear  that 
absurd  old  ass  at  Emory  put  Dean  in  arrest  for  not 
coming  directly  home.  Pecksniff  should  have  been 
retired  ten  years  ago — for  imbecility. 

"  "We  had  a  tremendous  storm  in  the  mountains 
to  the  south  two  days  ago,  and  a  courier  has  just 
galloped  out  from  Emory,  inquiring  for  news  of 
Dean.  It  seems  he  was  sent  with  a  big  sum  in  cur 
rency  for  your  quartermaster,  and  ordered  to  slip 
through  by  way  of  the  Sweetwater,  as  Ked  Cloud 
was  known  to  be  covering  the  direct  road.  Some 
how  it  leaked  out  before  he  started,  and  a  gang  of 
desperadoes  gathered  to  jump  him  at  Canon 
Springs,  The  storm  jumped  them,  for  two  of  their 
dead  and  a  dozen  horses  were  rolled  out  on  the  flats. 
Dean  must  have  got  through  all  right,  for  Bat  saw 
their  trail  fifteen  miles  above  us.  Of  course,  he'll 
have  to  make  night  marches;  but,  unless  Ked  Cloud 
gets  wind  of  his  coming  and  corrals  him,  he  should 
reach  you  almost  as  soon  as  this.  Michel,  the 
bearer,  has  your  dispatches  and  orders.  Eetained 
copies  are  here.  Good  luck,  old  man,  and  may  we 
meet  within  the  fortnight  and  wind  up  Ked  Cloud 
once  and  for  all 


216  WARRIOR  GAP. 

This  was  all,  but  more  than  enough.  Hiding 
night  and  day  in  wide  detour,  Michel  had  made  his 
way  to  the  lately  beleaguered  spot,  and  what  he 
brought  was  joyous  news,  indeed.  Within  the 
coming  week  the  post  would  have  no  more  to  fear. 
Within  a  day  or  two  the  contractors,  then,  would  have 
their  money,  and  that  would  tap  the  sutler's  stores 
and  joy  would  reign  supreme.  Enviously  the  soldiers 
eyed  the  artisans.  Not  for  weeks  could  their  pay 
master  be  looked  for,  while  the  funds  for  the  civilians 
might  reach  them  on  the  morrow,  provided  Red 
Cloud  did  not  interfere.  He  couldn't  and  wouldn't, 
said  the  commander,  because  he  and  his  braves  were 
all  off  to  the  southeast,  hunting  buffalo.  He  could 
and  might,  said  Michel  that  night  at  ten  o'clock,  after 
taps  had  sent  the  garrison  to  bed,  for  by  the  time 
he  left  Frayne  there  were  other  riders  up  from  Gate 
City  and  all  that  garrison  had  learned  that  Lieuten 
ant  Dean  was  taking  something  like  fifty  thousand 
dollars  in  greenbacks  up  to  the  Gap,  with  only  ten 
men  to  guard  it,  and  Major  Burleigh  was  wild  with 
anxiety  lest  he  shouldn't  get  through,  and  had  been 
nearly  crazy  since  he  heard  of  Dean's  narrow  escape 
nt  Canon  Springs.  The  officer  of  the  day  who 
heard  this  story  took  it,  with  the  teller,  to  the  post 
commander,  and  that  veteran  sat  up  late  and  cross- 
questioned  long.  Michel's  English  might  be  broken, 


WARRIOR  GAP.  217 

but  not  his  statement.  The  last  arrival  at  Frayne 
before  he  left  was  one  of  Major  Burleigh's  own 
men  from  Gate  City.  He  said  the  General  and  his 
staff  were  expected  at  Emory  the  next  day,  inves 
tigating  matters,  for  old  Stevens  had  got  stampeded 
because  his  sergeant-major  was  assaulted  and  old 
Mr.  Folsom  knocked  out  and  a  drunken  captain  by 
the  name  of  !N"e\vhall  had  been  making  trouble,  and 
it  had  all  told  on  Major  Burleigh,  who  had  taken 
to  his  bed  with  nervous  prostration. 

So,  while  the  garrison  went  to  rest  happy,  the 
commanding  officer  waked  long,  and  finally  slept 
soundly  and  might  have  slept  late,  but  that  just  at 
dawn,  full  half  an  hour  before  the  time  for  reveille, 
there  came  a  sharp  knocking  at  the  door  of  his  log- 
hut,  and  the  imperative  voice  of  the  officer  of  the 
day. 

"  Colonel  \  colonel,  I  say  \  There's  sharp  firing 
out  here  in  the  hills  to  the  south !" 

The  peaks  to  the  west  were  just  tinging  with 
purple  and  red,  reflected  from  the  eastward  sky, 
and  a  faint  light  was  beginning  to  steal  down  into 
the  deep  valley  in  which  the  cantonment  lay  sleep 
ing,  when  the  veteran  commander  carne  hurrying 
out,  half-dressed,  and  hied  him,  with  his  attendant 
officer,  to  the  southern  angle  of  the  stockade.  There 
on  the  narrow  ledge  or  platform  built  under  tiie 


218  WAERIOR  GAP. 

sharp  tops  of  the  upright  logs,  were  grouped  the 
silent,  grave-faced  guard,  a  dozen  men  intently 
listening.  Thither  presently  came  running  others 
of  the  officers  or  men,  suddenly  awakened  by  sense 
of  something  unusual  going  on.  Far  away  among 
the  wooded  heights  to  the  south,  echoing  from  the 
rocky  palisades  to  the  west,  could  be  heard  the  pop, 
pop  of  distant  musketry,  punctuated  sometimes  with 
louder  bang  as  of  large  caliber  rifles  closer  at  hand. 
Little  time  was  there  in  which  to  hazard  opinion  as 
to  the  cause.  One  or  two  men,  faint-hearted  at  the 
thought  of  the  peril  of  Indian  battle  and  hopeful  of 
influencing  the  judgment  of  their  superiors,  began 
the  murmur  of  "  Big  hunt,"  "  Buffalo  drive,"  etc., 
glancing  furtively  at  the  colonel  the  while  as  though 
to  observe  the  effect.  But  an  imperative  "  Silence, 
you  idiots  P  from  the  officer  of  the  day  put  sudden 
end  to  their  conjectures.  Only  a  moment  did  the 
commander  listen.  Then,  quick  and  startling,  came 
the  order,  "  Sound  to  arms  !"  and  within  the  min 
ute  the  stirring  peal  of  the  cavalry  trumpet  was 
answered  by  the  hoarse  thunder  of  the  snare-drum, 
beating  the  long  roll.  Out  from  their  "  dog  tents  " 
and  half-finished  log  huts  came  the  bewildered  men. 
Often  as  the  alarm  had  sounded  on  the  frontier 
there  was  a  thrill  and  ring  about  it  this  time  that 
told  of  action  close  at  haiid.  Out  from  the  little 


WARRIOR  GAP.  219 

huts,  hurrying  into  their  frock  coats  and  belting  on 
their  swords  as  they  glared  about  them  for  the 
cause  of  the  uproar,  came  the  officers,  old  and 
young,  most  of  them  veterans  of  many  hard-fought 
fields  of  the  war  days — one  or  two,  only,  young 
sters  fresh  from  the  Point.  At  many  a  doorway 
and  unglazed  window  appeared  the  pallid  faces  of 
women  and  children,  some  of  them  weeping  in 
mingled  fright  and  distress.  In  front  of  the  log 
guardhouse  the  sergeant  quickly  formed  the  two 
reliefs  not  on  post.  On  their  designated  parades 
the  companies  rapidly  fell  in,  while  stern- voiced 
non-commissioned  officers  rebuked  the  laggards  and 
aided  them  into  their  belts,  and  each  first  sergeant 
took  rapid  note  of  his  men.  ISTo  need  to  call  the 
roll,  a  skulker  would  have  been  detected  and  kicked 
into  the  ranks  at  the  instant.  Over  under  the  rough 
board  shelter  of  the  quartermaster's  employees  the 
workmen  came  tumbling  out  in  shirt  sleeves,  many 
of  them  running  to  the  nearest  officer  and  begging 
for  a  gun  and  a  place  in  the  fight,  for  now  the  firing 
was  loud  and  lively.  Down  by  the  swift-flowing 
stream  the  tethered  horses  of  the  cavalry  plunged 
and  neighed  in  excitement,  and  the  mules  in  the 
quartermaster's  corral  set  up  their  irrepressible 
bray.  For  five  minutes  there  was  clamor,  but  no 
confusion.  Then  disciplined  silence  reigned  again, 


220  WARRIOR  GAP. 

all  but  the  near  ing  volleying  at  the  south.  Pres 
ently,  at  rapid  trot  the  cavalry,  some  fifty  strong, 
came  clattering  up  the  stony  trail  from  the  stream, 
and  with  carbines  advanced  disappeared  through 
the  main  gateway  in  a  cloud  of  du.st.  Two  com 
panies  were  told  off  to  man  the  loopholes  of  the 
stockade.  Two  others  under  the  command  of  a 
senior  captain  faced  by  the  right  flank,  and  in 
double-quick  time  danced  away  in  the  wake  of  the 
cavalry.  Eagerly  the  watchers  climbed  the  wooden 
walls  or  to  the  tower  of  the  half-finished  guard 
house,  and,  as  the  red  light  strengthened  in  the  east 
and  the  mountain  sides  became  revealed,  studied 
with  their  glasses  or  with  straining  eyes  the  south 
ward  vista  through  the  hills.  They  saw  the  troop 
form  line  to  the  front  at  the  gallop  as  it  swept  out 
over  the  open  ground  four  hundred  yards  away, 
saw  its  flankers  scurry  to  the  nearest  shoulder  of 
bluff,  saw  their  excited  signals  and  gesticulations, 
and  presently  a  sheaf  of  skirmishers  shot  forward 
from  the  advancing  line  and  breasted  the  low  ridge 
eight  hundred  yards  out  from  the  fort,  and  then 
there  came  floating  back  the  sound  of  ringing, 
tumultuous  cheer  as  the  skirmishers  reached  the 
crest  and  darted  headlong  at  some  unseen  object 
beyond,  and  after  them  went  the  reserve,  cheering 
too.  And  now  the  sound  of  firing  became  fierce 


WAEHIOR  GAP.  221 

and  incessant,  and  messengers  came  galloping  back 
to  the  commander  of  the  steadily  advancing  in 
fantry,  and  they,  too,  were  seen  to  throw  forward 
heavy  skirmish  lines  and  then  resume  the  march. 
And  then,  down  over  the  ridge  came  a  little  knot 
of  horsemen,  made  up  of  three  men  riding  close  to 
gether,  the  outer  ones  supporting  between  them  the 
comrade  in  the  center.  Before  they  were  within 
four  hundred  yards  the  young  adjutant,  gazing 
through  his  glasses  at  the  colonel's  side,  exclaimed  : 
"It's  Dean — dead  or  wounded !"  and  one  of  the  sur 
geons  rushed  forward  to  meet  the  party.  "  He's 
weak,  sir,  almost  gone  from  loss  of  blood,"  ex 
claimed  Trooper  Conroy,  himself  bleeding  from  a 
gash  along  the  cheek.  A  faint  smile  drifted  over 
the  young  fellow's  pallid  face,  as  the  adjutant,  too, 
galloped  up.  A  feeble  hand  indicated  the  bulging 
saddle  pocket.  A  faint  voice  faltered,  "  There's  ten 
thousand  dollars  in  that  packet.  We  had  to  fight 
our  way  through,"  and  then  the  brave  blue  eyes 
closed  and  strong  arms  lifted  the  almost  lifeless 
form  from  the  saddle  as  Marshall  swooned  away. 


222  WARRIOR  GAP. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A  DAY  had  dawned  on  the  Big  Horn  never  to  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  watched  the  conflict  from 
the  stockade,  never  to  be  recalled  by  those  who 
went  forth  to  fight.  Broad  daylight  had  come  and 
the  sun  was  peeping  over  the  far  horizon  as  strong 
arms  bore  the  unconscious  officer  within  the  post, 
and  the  commander  eagerly  questioned  the  men 
who  came  with  him.  Their  story  was  quickly  told. 
They  had  fled  before  overpowering  numbers  of  the 
Sioux  the  night  before,  had  made  their  way 
through  the  timber  in  the  darkness  and  come  ahead 
all  night,  groping  their  way  from  ridge  to  ridge 
until  at  the  peep  of  day  they  found  themselves  in 
sight  of  familiar  landmarks,  and  could  see  the 
gleam  of  the  waters  of  the  Fork  dancing  away 
under  the  dawn.  And  then,  as  they  essayed  to  ride 
on  they  found  the  Indians  all  around  them.  Which 
ever  way  they  turned  the  foe  appeared,  but  only  in 
scattered  parties  and  small  numbers.  Not  once  did 
more  than  half  a  dozen  appear  in  sight,  and  then 
confident  of  speedy  succor  from  the  fort,  they  had 


WARRIOR  GAP. 

decided  to  make  a  dash  for  it,  and  so  rode  boldly 
out  into  the  open.  But  now  a  score  of  warriors 
popped  up  and  barred  the  way,  while  others  far  out 
at  flank  or  rear  kept  up  long  range  fire.  One  man 
was  shot  through  the  body  and  fainted  and  had  to 
be  borne  along.  Then  the  lieutenant  was  shot  in  the 
leg,  but  no  one  knew  it  until  they  saw  his  boot  was 
running  over  with  blood,  and  he  was  growing 
ghastly  white,  even  though  he  kept  encouraging 
and  directing.  But  when  at  last  the  cavalry  met 
them  and  brushed  the  Indians  away  from  the  front, 
Captain  Drum,  who  rode  at  their  head,  ordered  Mr. 
Dean  taken  right  into  the  post  while  he  dashed  on 
to  punish  the  Sioux,  "  and  he  is  giving  them  hell, 
too,"  said  the  excited  trooper,  "  for  there  couldn't 
have  been  more  than  a  hundred  Indians  all  told." 

Ah,  not  in  sight,  perhaps,  poor  lads ! — not  in  sight 
of  horse,  foot  or  fort ;  for  if  there  were  only  a  hun 
dred,  how  came  it  that  the  fire  grew  fiercer  still, 
and  that  presently  every  musket  in  the  infantry 
skirmish  line,  too,  was  blazing  on  the  foe.  By  this 
time  cavalry  and  infantry  both  had  disappeared 
over  the  curtaining  ridge,  and  the  colonel's  face 
grew  grave  and  haggard  as  he  listened.  Three- 
fifths  of  his  little  garrison  were  out  there  battling 
against  unknown  numbers.  They  had  gone  to 
rescue  the  detachment  and  bring  it  safely  in.  That 


224  WARRIOR  GAP. 

rescue  was  accomplished.  The  precious  package 
for  which  so  much  had  been  risked  was  here — but 
what  detained  the  command?  Why  did  they  not 
return  ?  Beyond  doubt  far  more  Indians  were  out 
there  now  than  when  first  the  firing  began.  "  Gallop 
out,  Mr.  Adjutant,  and  tell  the  major  to  withdraw 
his  line  and  fall  back  on  the  stockade,"  was  the 
order — and  with  a  lump  in  his  throat  the  young 
officer  mounted  again  and  started.  He  was  a  pet  in 
the  garrison,  only  in  his  second  year  of  commission. 
They  saw  him  gallop  through  the  gate,  saw  him 
ride  gallantly  straight  for  the  curtaining  ridge  be 
yond  which  the  smoke  was  rising  heavily  now,  saw 
him  breasting  the  slope,  his  orderly  following,  saw 
him  almost  reach  it,  and  then  suddenly  the  prairie 
seemed  to  jet  fire.  The  foremost  horse  reared, 
plunged,  and  went  rolling  over  and  over.  They 
saw — plainly  saw  through  their  glasses,  and  a  shriek 
of  agony  and  horror  went  up  from  among  the 
women  at  the  sight — half  a  dozen  painted  savages 
spring  out  from  behind  the  ledge,  some  on  pony 
back,  some  afoot,  and  bear  down  on  the  stricken 
form  of  the  slender  young  rider  now  feebly  striving 
to  rise  from  the  turf;  saw  the  empty  hand  out 
stretched,  imploring  mercy ;  saw  jabbing  lances 
and  brandished  war-clubs  pinning  the  helpless  boy 
to  earth  and  beating  in  the  bared,  defenseless  head ; 


GAP.  225 

saw  the  orderly  dragged  from  under  his  struggling 
horse  and  butchered  by  his  leader's  side  ;  saw.  the 
bloody  knives  at  work  tearing  away  the  hot  red 
scalps,  then  ripping  off  the  blood-soaked  clothing, 
and,  to  the  music  of  savage  shouts  of  glee  and  tri 
umph,  hacking,  hewing,  mutilating  the  poor  remains, 
reckless  of  the  bullets  that  came  buzzing  along  the 
turf  from  the  score  of  Spring-fields  turned  loose  at 
the  instant  among  the  loopholes  of  the  stockade.  It 
was  eight  hundred  yards  away  in  the  dazzling  light 
of  the  rising  sun.  Old  Springfields  did  not  carry  as 
do  the  modern  arms.  Soldiers  of  those  days  were 
not  taught  accurate  shooting  as  they  are  now.  It 
was  too  far  for  anything  but  chance,  and  all  within 
a  minute  or  two  the  direful  tragedy  was  over,  and 
the  red  warriors  had  darted  back  behind  the  ridge 
from  which  they  came. 

"  My  God  !  sir,"  gasped  the  officer  who  stood  at 
the  side  of  the  awe-stricken  post  commander,  "  I 
believe  it's  Red  Cloud's  entire  band,  and  they've 
got  our  poor  boys  surrounded!  Can't  we  send 
help?" 

"  Send  help !  Merciful  heaven,  man,  who's  to  help 
us?  Who's  to  protect  these  poor  women  and  chil 
dren  if  we  go  ?  I  have  but  two  companies  left. 
It's  what  those  fiends  are  hoping — have  been  plan 
ning — that  I'll  send  out  my  last  man  to  the  aid  of 


WAHHIOR  GAP. 

those  already  gone,  and  then  they'll  dart  in  on  the 
fort,  and  what  will  become  of  these  ?" 

Great  drops  of  sweat  were  pouring  down  the 
colonel's  face  as  he  turned  and  pointed  to  the  huts 
where  now,  clinging  to  one  another  in  terror,  many 
poor  wives  and  children  were  gathered,  and  the  air 
was  filled  with  the  sobbing  of  the  little  ones.  Up 
from  the  stockade  came  two  young  officers,  their 
faces  set  and  rigid,  their  eyes  blazing.  "  In  God's 
name,  colonel,"  cried  the  foremost,  "let  me  take 
my  men  and  clear  that  ridge  so  that  our  people  can 
get  back.  One  charge  will  do  it,  sir." 

But  solemnly  the  commander  uplifted  his  hand. 
"  Listen,"  said  he,  "  the  battle  is  receding.  They 
are  driving  our  poor  fellows  southward,  away  from 
us.  They  are  massed  between  them  and  us.  It 
would  only  be  playing  into  their  hands,  my  boy. 
It's  too  late  to  help.  Our  duty  now  is  here." 

"  But  good  God,  sir !  I  can't  stay  without  rais 
ing  a  hand  to  help.  I  beg — I  implore  !" 

"  Go  back  to  your  post  at  once,  sir.  You  may  be 
needed  any  minute.  Look  there !  Now  !" 

And  as  he  spoke  the  colonel  pointed  to  the  south 
east.  Over  the  scene  beyond  the  divide  to  the 
south  hung  the  bank  of  pale-blue  smoke.  Out  on 
the  slope  lay  the  ghastly  remains  of  the  young 
adjutant  and  his  faithful  comrade  who,  not  ten 


&AP. 


minutes  before,  had  galloped  forth  in  obedience  to 
their  orders  and  met  their  soldier  fate.  Out  to  the 
southeast  the  ridge  fell  gradually  away  into  the 
general  level  of  the  rolling  prairie,  and  there,  full  a 
thousand  yards  distant,  there  suddenly  darted,  into 
view  three  horsemen,  troopers  evidently,  spurring 
madly  for  home. 

"  They've  cut  their  way  through  !  Thank  God  !" 
almost  screamed  the  spectators  at  the  parapet.  But 
their  exultation  died  an  instant  later.  Over  the 
ridge,  in  swift  pursuit  came  a  dozen  painted,  feath 
ered  braves,  their  ponies  racing  at  lightning  speed, 
their  arrows  and  bullets  whizzing  along  the  line  of 
flight.  The  horse  of  the  foremost  trooper  was  stag 
gering,  and  suddenly  went  plunging  headlong,  send 
ing  his  rider  sprawling  far  out  on  the  turf.  He  was 
up  in  a  second,  dire  peril  nerving  him  to  desperate 
effort.  His  comrades  veered  at  his  cry  for  help  and 
glanced  back  over  their  shoulders.  One,  unnerved 
at  sight  of  the  dashing  foemen  in  pursuit,  clapped 
spurs  again,  and  bending  low,  rode  madly  on.  The 
other,  gallant  fellow  !  reined  about  in  wide,  sweep 
ing  circle,  and  turned  back  to  meet  his  running 
comrade.  They  saw  him  bend  to  lend  a  helping 
hand,  saw  him  bend  still  lower  as  three  of  the 
Indians  leaped  from  their  ponies  and,  kneeling, 
loosed  their  rifles  all  at  once;  saw  him  topple 


GAP. 


out  of  saddle,  and  his  stricken  horse,  with  flapping 
rein,  trot  aimlessly  about  a  moment  before  he,  too, 
went  floundering  in  his  tracks;  saw  the  other  sol 
dier  turn  to  face  his  fate  by  his  dying  comrade's 
side,  fighting  to  the  last,  overwhelmed  and  borne 
down  by  the  rush  of  red  warriors.  Strong  men 
turned  aside  in  agony,  unable  to  look  on  and  see 
the  rest  —  the  brutal,  pitiless  clubbing  and  stabbing, 
the  fearful  hacking  of  lance  and  knife  —  but  others 
still,  in  the  fascination  of  horror,  gazed  helplessly 
through  the  smoke  drifting  upward  from  the  blaz 
ing  loopholes,  and  once  a  feeble  cheer  broke  forth 
as  one  shot  took  effect  and  a  yelling  Indian  stretched 
out  dead  upon  the  sward.  Then  for  a  brief  moment 
all  eyes  centered  on  the  sole  survivor  who  came 
sweeping  down  the  slope,  straight  for  the  stockade. 
Almost  it  seemed  as  though  he  might  yet  escape, 
despite  the  fact  that  his  horse,  too,  was  lurching  and 
stumbling  and  his  pursuers  were  gaining  rapidly, 
defiant  of  the  fire  of  the  little  fort.  Reckless  of 
order  and  discipline,  a  dozen  soldiers  nearest  the 
gate  rushed  out  upon  the  open  bench,  shouting  en 
couragement  and  sending  long  range,  chance  shots. 
But  with  every  stride  the  fleeing  steed  grew 
weaker,  stumbled  painfully  and  slackened  speed. 
and  soon  they  saw  him  slowing  down  despite  the 
frantic  jabbing  of  the  spurs,  and  with  drooped 


WARRIOR  GAP.  229 

head  and  bleeding  nostrils  giving  up  the  fight. 
And  then,  at  sound  of  the  triumphant  yells  and 
jeers  of  his  pursuers,  the  poor  wretch  in  saddle 
threw  one  fearful  glance  behind  him,  one  despair- 
ing  look  toward  the  comrades  and  the  refuge  still  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  away,  and  with  shaking  hand  he 
turned  the  bro\vn  revolver  on  his  own  temple  and 
pulled  trigger,  and  then  went  tumbling  earthward, 
a  corpse.  There  at  least  was  one  scalp  the  Sioux 
could  covet  in  vain,  for  with  shouts  of  vengeance, 
the  little  squad  of  infantry,  deaf  to  all  orders  or 
the  clamor  of  the  bugle  recall,  dashed  out  over  the 
level  bench,  firing  furiously  as  they  ran,  and, 
whether  from  the  superstitious  awe  with  which  the 
Indians  view  the  suicide,  or  the  dread  of  close  com 
bat  with  the  gallant  band  of  blue-coats,  the  mounted 
warriors  turned  and  scurried  away  across  the  prairie, 
and  were  presently  out  of  range  beyond  the  ridge 
again.  Then,  and  not  till  they  had  reached  and 
lifted  and  borne  the  lifeless  form  of  the  trooper,  did 
the  little  party  condescend  to  answer  the  repeated 
summons  from  the  fort.  Then  at  last  they  slowly 
returned,  unrebuked,  for  no  man  had  the  heart  to 
chide  their  daring. 

Only  once  more  was  there  further  sight  of  the 
one-sided  battle.  Half  a  mile  or  more  beyond  the 
bare  divide  there  rose  against  the  southern  sky  a 


230  WAZRIOB  GAP. 

bold,  oblong  height  or  bntte.  studded  with  bowl 
ders  and  stunted  pine,  and  watchers  at  the  fort  be 
came  aware  as  the  sun  climbed  higher  that  the 
smoke  cloud,  thinning  gradually  but  perceptibly, 
was  slowly  drifting  thither.  The  fire,  too,  grew 
faint  and  scattering.  The  war-whoops  rang  and  re 
echoed  among  the  rocks,  but  all  sound  of  cheering 
had  long  since  died  away.  At  last,  an  hour  after 
the  fury  of  the  tight  began,  the  colonel,  gazing  in 
speechless  grief,  through  his  field-glass,  muttered  to 
the  officer  at  his  side : 

"  Some  of  them  are  still  left.  They  are  fighting 
for  their  lives  along  that  butte." 

Only  a  few,  though.  One  by  one  the  dark  dots 
among  the  bowlders  ceased  to  stir  and  move  about. 
Little  by  little  the  fire  slackened,  and  all  but 
occasional  scattered  shots  died  utterly  away.  Then 
other  forms,  feathered  and  bedizened,  were  seea 
rushing  in  numbers  up  the  distant  hillside,  and  that 
meant  all  was  over,  and  the  brutal  knives  were 
busily  at  work.  Little  by  little  all  sound  of  con 
flict,  all  sight  of  combatants,  disappeared  entirely, 
and  the  unclouded  sunshine  streamed  down  upon  a 
scene  on  which  the  silence  of  death  indeed  had 
fallen.  AVben  at  last,  late  that  afternoon,  the 
watchers  reported  a  vast  body  of  Indians  drifting 
away  eastward  toward  the  distant  Powder  River, 


WARRIOR  GAP.  231 

and  venturesome  scouts  stole  out  to  reconnoiter, 
backed  by  skirmish  lines  from  the  stricken  post, 
they  found  the  grassy  slopes  beyond  that  curtaining 
ridge  one  broad  field  of  death,  strewn  with  the 
stripped  and  hacked  and  mangled  forms  of  : 
who  had  so  gallantly  dashed  forth  to  the  aid  of 
comrade  soldiery  at  the  break  of  day,  so  torn  and 
mutilated  and  disfigured  that  only  a  limited  few 
were  ever  identified.  Officers  and  men,  one  after 
another,  had  died  in  their  tracks,  victims  of  Ked 
Cloud  and  the  Ogallalla  Sioux. 

And  all  for  what?  Late  that  night  the  quarter 
master  in  wild  agitation  sought  his  colonel's  door,  a 
package  in  his  hands,  "  For  God's  sake,  sir,  look 
at  this!"  he  cried. 

The  cords  had  just  been  cut,  the  seals  just  broken, 
the  stout  papei  carefully  opened  and  the  contents 
of  the  precious  packet  exposed  to  view.  It  held  no 
money  at  all,  nothing  but  layer  on  layer  of  waste 
and  worthless  paper! 


232  WARRIOR  GAP. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

A  WEEK  went  by  at  Fort  Emory,  and  not  a  word 
came  back  from  Dean.  The  furious  storm  that 
swept  the  hills  and  swelled  the  rivers  was  the  talk  of 
every  army  post  within  two  hundred  miles,  while  in 
the  gambling  hells  and  saloons  of  Laramie,  Cheyenne 
and  Gate  City  men  spoke  of  it  in  low  tones  and 
with  bated  breath.  If  ever  the  bolts  of  heaven  were 
launched  to  defeat  a  foul  crime  it  was  right  there  at 
Canon  Springs,  for  the  story  was  all  over  Wyoming 
by  this  time  how  the  worst  gang  of  cutthroats  that 
ever  infested  the  wide  West  had  galloped  in  strong 
force  to  that  wild,  sequestered  nook  to  murder  Dean 
and  his  whole  party  of  the  hated  "  blue  bellies,"  if 
need  be,  but  at  all  hazards  to  get  the  precious  pack 
age  in  his  charge.  Fifty  thousand  dollars  in  govern 
ment  greenbacks  it  contained,  if  Hank  Birdsall, 
their  chosen  leader,  could  be  believed,  and  hitherto 
he  had  never  led  thein  astray.  He  swore  that  he 
had  the  "  straight  tip,"  and  that  every  man  who 
took  honest  part  in  the  fight,  that  was  sure  to  ensue, 
should  have  his  square  one  thousand  dollars.  Thirty 


WARRIOR  GAP.  233 

to  ten,  surrounding  the  soldiers  along  the  bluffs  on 
every  side,  they  counted  on  easy  victory.  But  the 
warning  thunder  had  been  enough  for  the  young 
troop  leader,  and  prompted  him  to  break  camp  and 
get  out  of  the  gorge.  They  were  starting  when 
BirdsalPs  scouts  peered  over  the  bank  and  the  out 
law  ordered  instant  pursuit,  just  in  time  to  meet  the 
fury  of  the  flood  and  to  see  some  of  his  fellows 
drowned  like  rats  in  a  sewer. 

But  who  betrayed  the  secret  ?  What  officer  or 
government  employe  revealed  the  fact  that  Dean 
was  going  with  so  much  treasure? — and  what  could 
have  been  his  object  ?  Birdsall  had  taken  to  the 
mountains  and  was  beyond  pursuit.  "  Shorty,"  one 
of  his  men,  rescued  from  drowning  by  the  mail 
carrier  and  escort  coming  down  from  Frayne,  con 
fessed  the  plot  and  the  General  was  now  at  Emory 
investigating.  Major  Burleigh  had  taken  to  his 
bed.  Captain  Newhall  was  reported  gone  to 
Denver.  Old  John  Folsom  lay  with  bandaged  head 
and  blinded  eyes  in  a  darkened  room,  assiduously 
nursed  by  Pappoose  and  Jessie,  who  in  turn  wrere 
devotedly  attended  by  Mrs.  Fletcher.  Possessed 
of  some  strange  nervous  excitement,  this  energetic 
woman  was  tireless  in  her  effort  to  be  of  use.  Minus 
ten  of  their  very  best,  "  C"  Troop  still  camped  at 
Emory?  the  General  holding  it  for  possible  escort 


234  WARRIOR  GAP. 

duty,  and,  to  his  huge  delight,  young  Loomis  was 
assigned  to  command  it  until  Dean  should  return. 
There  came  a  day  when  the  news  arrived  from 
Frayne  that  the  Laramie  column  had  crossed  the 
Platte  and  marched  on  for  the  Big  Horn,  and  then 
John  Folsom  began  to  mend  and  was  allowed  to  sit 
up,  and  told  the  doctor  he  had  need  to  see  Major 
Burleigh  without  delay,  but  Burleigh  could  not  leave 
his  bed,  said  the  physician  in  attendance — a  very 
different  practitioner  from  Folsom's — and  the  old 
man  began  to  fret  and  fume,  and  asked  for  writing 
materials.  He  wrote  Burleigh  a  note,  and  the 
doctor  forbade  his  patient's  reading  anything. 
Major  Burleigh,  said  he,  was  a  very  sick  man,  and 
in  a  wretchedly  nervous  condition.  Serious  conse 
quences  were  feared  unless  utter  quiet  could  be 
assured. 

Then  Folsom  was  pronounced  well  enough  to  be 
taken  out  for  a  drive,  and  he  and  Pappoose  had  the 
back  seat  together,  while  Jessie,  with  Harry  Loomis 
to  drive,  sat  in  front,  and  Jess  was  shy  and  happy, 
for  Loomis  had  plainly  lost  his  heart  to  his  comrade's 
pretty  sister.  Marshall  had  now  been  gone  nine 
days  and  could  soon  be  expected  home,  said  every 
body,  for  with  a  big  force  going  up  there  the 
Indians  would  scatter  and  "  the  boys"  would  have 
no  trouble  coming  back.  And  so  this  lovely 


WARRIOR  GAP,  235 

summer  afternoon  every  one  seemed  bright  and 
joyous  at  the  fort,  listening  to  the  band  and  wonder 
ing,  some  of  the  party  at  least,  how  much  longer  it 
would  be  before  they  could  hope  to  hear  from  the 
absent,  when  there  arose  sudden  sounds  of  sup 
pressed  commotion  in  the  camp  of  "  C"  Troop.  A 
courier  was  coming  like  mad  on  the  road  from 
Frayne — a  courier  whose  panting  horse  reined  up  a 
minute,  with  heaving  flanks,  in  the  midst  of  the 
thronging  men,  and  all  the  troop  turned  white  and 
still  at  the  news  the  rider  briefly  told  : — three  com 
panies  at  Warrior  Gap  were  massacred  by  the 
Sioux,  one  hundred  and  severity  men  in  all,  in 
cluding  Sergeant  Bruce  and  all  "C  "  Troop's  men 
but  Conroy  and  Garret,  who  had  cut  their  way 
through  with  Lieutenant  Dean  and  were  safe  inside 
the  stockade,  though  painfully  wounded.  This 
appalling  story  the  girls  heard  with  faces  blanched 
with  horror.  Passionate  weeping  came  to  Jessie's 
relief,  but  Pappoose  shed  never  a  tear.  The 
courier's  dispatches  were  taken  in  to  the  colonel, 
and  Folsom,  trembling  with  mingled  weakness  and 
excitement,  followed. 

It  was  an  impressive  scene  as  the  old  soldier 
read  the  sad  details  to  the  rapidly  growing  group 
of  weeping  women,  for  that  was  Emory's  garrison 
now,  wlile  the  official  reports  were  hurried  on  to 


236  WARRIOR  GAP. 

catch  the  General  on  his  way  to  Cheyenne.  Some 
one  warned  the  band  leader,  and  the  musicians 
marched  away  to  quarters.  Some  one  bore  the 
news  to  town  where  the  flags  over  the  hotel  and  the 
one  newspaper  office  were  at  once  lowered  to  half 
staff,  although  that  at  Emory,  true  to  official 
etiquette  and  tradition,  remained  until  further 
orders  at  the  peak,  despite  the  fact  that  two  of  the 
annihilated  companies  were  from  that  very  post. 
Some  one  bore  the  news  to  Burleigh's  quarters  at 
the  depot,  and,  despite  assertions  that  the  major 
could  see  no  one  and  must  not  be  agitated  or  dis 
turbed,  disturbed  and  agitated  he  was  beyond  per- 
ad venture.  Excitedly  the  sick  man  sprang  from  his 
bed  at  the  tidings  of  the  massacre  and  began  pen 
ning  a  letter.  Then  he  summoned  a  young  clerk 
from  his  office  and  told  him  he  had  determined  to 
get  up  at  once,  as  now  every  energy  of  the  govern 
ment  would  doubtless  be  put  forth  to  bring  the 
Sioux  to  terms.  It  was  the  young  clerk  who  a  few 
weeks  back  had  remarked  to  a  fellow  employe  how 
"  rattled"  the  old  man  was  getting.  The  major's 
doctor  was  not  about.  The  major  began  dictating 
letters  to  various  officials  as  he  rapidly  dressed,  and 
what  happened  can  best  be  told  in  the  clerk's  own 
words  :  "  For  a  man  too  sick  to  see  any  one  two 
hours  before,"  said  he?  "  the  major  had  wonderful 


WA&&10R  &AP. 


recuperative  powers,  but  they  didn't  last.  He  was 
in  the  midst  of  a  letter  to  the  chief  quartermaster 
and  had  got  as  far  as  to  say,  '  The  deplorable  and 
tragic  fate  of  Lieutenant  Dean  points,  of  course,  to 
the  loss  of  the  large  sum  intrusted  to  him,'  when  I 
looked  up  and  said,  '  Why,  Lieutenant  Dean  ain't 
dead,  major  ;  he  got  in  all  right,'  and  he  stared  at 
me  a  minute  as  if  I  had  stabbed  him.  His  face 
turned  yellow-white  and  down  he  went  like  a  log  — 
had  a  fit  I  s'pose.  Then  I  ran  for  help,  and  then 
the  doctor  came  and  hustled  everybody  out." 

But  not  till  late  that  night  did  these  details 
reach  "Old  Pecksniff"  at  the  post.  A  solemn 
time  was  that  veteran  having,  for  many  of 
the  women  were  almost  in  hysterics  and  all 
were  in  deep  distress.  Two  of  their  number, 
wives  of  officers,  were  widowed  by  the  catastrophe, 
and  one  lay  senseless  for  hours.  It  was  almost 
dark  when  Mr.  Folsom  and  the  girls  drove  home 
ward,  and  his  face  was  lined  and  haggard.  Pap- 
poose  nestled  fondly,  silently  at  his  side,  holding 
his  hand  and  closely  scanning  his  features,  as  though 
striving  to  read  his  thoughts.  Jessie,  comforted 
now  by  the  knowledge  that  Marshall  was  rapidly 
recovering,  and  the  words  of  praise  bestowed  upon 
him  in  the  colonel's  letters,  was  nevertheless  in  deep 
anxiety  as  to  the  future.  The  assurance  Vat  the 


238  WAk&tOR  GAP. 

Sioux,  even  in  their  overwhelming  numbers,  would 
not  attack  a  stockade,  was  not  sufficient.  Marshall 
would  be  on  duty  again  within  a  very  few  days,  the 
colonel  said.  His  wounds  would  heal  within  the 
week,  and  it  was  only  loss  of  so  much  blood  that 
had  prostrated  him.  Within  a  few  days,  then,  her 
loved  brother  would  be  in  saddle  and  in  the  field 
against  the  Indians.  Who  could  assure  her  they 
would  not  have  another  pitched  battle?  Who  could 
say  that  the  fate  that  befell  the  garrison  at  Warrior 
Gap  might  not  await  the  troop  when  next  it  rode 
away  ?  And  poor  Jess  had  other  anxieties,  too,  by 
this  time.  Loomis  was  burning  with  eagerness  for 
orders  to  lead  it  instantly  to  join  the  field  column, 
and  importuned  Colonel  Stevens,  even  in  the  midst 
of  all  the  grief  and  shock  of  the  early  evening.  Al 
most  angrily  the  veteran  colonel  bade  him  attend 
to  his  assigned  duties  and  not  demand  others.  "  C  " 
Troop  should  not  with  his  advice  and  consent  be 
sent  north  of  the  Platte.  "  First  thing  you  know,  sir, 
after  they've  got  all  the  troops  up  along  the  Big 
Horn  you'll  see  the  Sioux  in  force  this  side  of  the 
river,  murdering  right  and  left,  and  not  a  company 
to  oppose  them.  No,  sir,  more  than  enough  of  that 
troop  have  already  been  sacrificed  !  The  rest  shall 
stay  here." 

And  well   was  it,  for  one  and  all,   that   "Old 


WARRIOR  GAP. 

Pecksniff  "  held  firm  to  his  decision.  It  was  one  of 
his  lucid  intervals. 

Late  that  evening,  after  ten  o'clock,  there  came 
the  sound  of  hoof- beats  on  the  hard  road  and  the 
crack  of  the  long-lashed  mule-whip,  and  the  fort 
ambulance  clattered  up  to  Folsom's  gate,  and  the 
colonel  himself,  his  adjutant  by  his  side,  -came 
nervously  up  the  gravel  walk.  Folsom  met  them  at 
his  door.  Instinctively  he  felt  that  something  new 
and  startling  was  added  to  the  catalogue  of  the 
day's  disastrous  tidings.  Pecksniff's  face  was  elo 
quent  of  gravest  concern,  mingled  with  irrepressible 
excitement. 

"  Let  me  see  you  in  private,  quick,"  he  said. 
"Mr. — Ah — Mr.  Adjutant,  will  you  kindly  remain  in 
the  parlor,"  and,  taking  Folsom  by  the  elbow, 
Pecksniff  led  impetuously  into  the  library.  The 
girls  had  gone  aloft  only  a  moment  before,  but, 
dreading  news  of  further  evil,  Pappoose  came  flut 
tering  down. 

"  Go  in  and  welcome  the  adjutant,  dear,"  said 
Folsom  hurriedly.  "  The  colonel  and  I  have  some 
matters  to  talk  of."  Obediently  she  turned  at  once, 
and,  glancing  up  the  stairs,  noted  that  Mrs. 
Fletcher's  door  must  have  been  suddenly  opened, 
for  the  light  from  her  room  was  now  streaming  on 
the  third-floor  balusters.  Listening  again !  What 


240  WARHlon  GAP. 

could  be  the  secret  of  that  woman's  intense  watch 
fulness  ?  In  the  parlor  the  young  staff  officer  was 
pacing  up  and  down,  but  his  face  lighted  at  sight  of 
Elinor. 

"Do  you  know — Is  there  anything  new? — any 
thing  worse  ?"  she  quickly  asked,  as  she  gave  her 
slim  young  hand. 

"  Not  concerning  our  people,"  was  the  significant 
answer.  "But  I  fear  there's  more  excitement 
coming." 

Barely  waiting  for  Elinor  to  withdraw,  "Peck 
sniff  "  had  turned  on  Folsom.  "  You  know  I  op 
posed  the  sending  of  that  party  ?  You  know  it  was 
all  ordered  on  Burleigh's  urging  and  representa 
tions,  do  you  not  ?" 

"Yes,  I  heard  so,"  said  Folsom.     "What  then?" 

"  You  know  he  planned  the  whole  business— sent 
'em  around  by  Canon  Springs  and  the  S  weet  water  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  heard  that,  too,"  said  Folsom,  still  won 
dering. 

"  You  know  some  one  must  have  put  that  Birdsall 
gang  on  the  scent,  and  that  Burleigh  has  had 
alleged  nerve  prostration  ever  since,  and  has  been 
too  ill  to  see  any  one  or  to  leave  his  bed." 

"  Yes,  so  we  were  told." 

"  Well,  he's  well  enough  to  be  up  and  away — God 
knows  where,  and  here  is  the  reason — just  in  from 


WARRIOR  GAP.  S41 

the  north,"  and,  trembling  with  excitement,  Peck 
sniff  pointed  to  the  closing  paragraph  of  the  letter 
in  his  hand : 

"Cords,  seals  and  wrapping  were  intact  when 
handed  to  the  quartermaster,  but  the  contents  were 
nothing  but  worthless  paper.  It  must  have  been  so 
when  given  to  Lieutenant  Dean." 

Folsom's  eyes  were  popping  from  his  head.  He 
sank  into  a  chair,  gazing  up  in  consternation. 

"  Don't  you  see,  man !"  said  Pecksniff,  "  some 
one  in  the  depot  is  short  ten  thousand  dollars  or  so. 
Some  one  hoped  to  cover  this  shortage  in  just  this 
way — to  send  a  little  squad  with  a  bogus  package, 
and  then  turn  loose  the  biggest  gang  of  ruffians  in 
the  country.  They  would  have  got  it  but  for  the 
storm  at  Canon  Springs,  and  no  one  would  have 
been  the  wiser.  They  couldn't  have  got  it  without 
a  murderous  fight.  No  one  would  ever  dare  confess 
his  complicity  in  it.  No  statement  of  theirs  that 
there  wasn't  a  cent  in  the  sack  could  ever  be  be 
lieved.  Some  one's  shortage  would  be  covered  and 
his  reputation  saved.  The  plot  failed,  and  God's 
mercy  was  over  Dean's  young  head.  He'd  'a  been 
murdered  or  ruined  if  the  plan  worked — and  now 
Burleigh's  gone !" 


WARRIOZ  GAP. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

YES,  Burleigh  was  gone,  and  there  was  confusion 
at  the  depot.  At  six  the  doctor  had  come  forth 
from  his  room,  saying  he  was  better,  but  must  not 
be  disturbed.  At  seven  the  major,  carrying  a 
satchel,  had  appeared  at  his  office,  where  two  clerks 
were  smoking  their  pipes,  innocent  of  all  thought 
of  their  employer's  coining.  It  was  after  hours. 
They  had  no  business  there  at  the  time.  Smoking 
was  prohibited  in  the  office,  yet  it  was  the  major 
who  seemed  most  embarrassed  at  the  unexpected 
meeting.  It  was  the  major  who  hastily  withdrew. 
He  was  traced  to  the  railway,  and  it  was  speedily 
found  that  he  had  sent  word  to  the  division  super 
intendent  that  the  General  had  telegraphed  for  him 
to  join  him  at  once  at  Cheyenne,  and  a  special  en 
gine  and  caboose  would  be  needed.  At  a  quarter 
past  seven  this  had  started  full  speed.  It  was  eleven 
when  the  discovery  was  made.  Meantime  Folsom 
and  Stevens  had  consulted  together.  Folsom  had 
told  of  the  large  sum  he  had  loaned  Burleigh  and 
the  conditions  attached,  and  between  them  a 


WAHR10H  GAP  24S 

dispatch,  concisely  setting  forth  their  suspicions, 
was  sent  the  General  at  Cheyenne,  with  orders  to 
"  rush,"  as  they  were  determined  if  possible  to  head 
off  the  fugitive  at  that  point.  Back  came  the  wire 
ten  minutes  before  midnight  that  the  General  had 
left  Cheyenne  for  Laramie  by  stage  that  evening, 
and  must  now  be  near  the  Chugwater  and  far  from 
telegraphic  communication.  Then  Stevens  wired 
the  sheriff  at  Cheyenne  and  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  new  post  of  Fort  Russell  to  stop  Eurleigh  at 
all  hazards,  and  at  two  in  the  morning  the  answer 
came  that  the  major  had  reached  Cheyenne  about 
midnight  and  they  would  search  everywhere  for 
him.  That  was  the  last  until  long  after  the  rising 
of  another  sun. 

Events  and  excitements,  alarms  and  rumors  fol 
lowed  each  other  with  startling  rapidity  during  the 
day.  In  glaring  headlines  the  local  paper  published 
the  details  of  the  massacre  at  the  Gap,  lauding  the 
valor  and  devotion  of  the  soldiers,  but  heaping 
abuse  upon  the  commander  of  the  post,  who,  with 
other  troops  at  his  disposal,  had  looked  on  and 
lifted  no  hand  to  aid  them.  Later,  of  course,  it  was 
proved  that  the  veteran  had  foiled  old  Eed  Cloud's 
villainous  plan  to  lure  the  whole  garrison  into  the 
open  country  and  there  surround  and  slowly 
annihilate  it,  while  then,  or  at  their  leisure  later, 


244  WARRIOR  GAP. 

his  chosen  ones  should  set  fire  to  the  unprotected 
stockade  and  bear  off  those  of  the  women  or 
children  whose  years  did  not  commend  them  to  the 
mercy  of  the  hatchet.  Soldiers  and  thinking  men 
soon  saw  the  colonel  was  right  and  that  the  only 
mistake  he  had  made  was  in  allowing  any  of  the 
garrison  to  go  forth  at  all.  But  this  verdict  was 
not  published,  except  long  after  as  unimportant 
news  and  in  some  obscure  corner.  The  Laramie 
column,  so  the  news  ran,  was  hastening  down  the 
Powder  River  to  strike  Red  Cloud.  The  Indians 
would  be  severely  punished,  etc.,  etc.  But  old 
Folsom's  face  grew  whiter  yet  as  he  read  that  such 
orders  had  been  sent  and  that  the  General  himself 
was  now  at  Laramie  directing  matters.  "  In  God's 
name,"  urged  he,  "  if  you  have  any  influence  with 
the  General,  tell  him  not  to  send  a  foot  column 
chasing  horsemen  anywhere,  and  above  all  not  to 
follow  down  the  Powder.  Next  thing  you  knew 
Red  Cloud  and  all  his  }Toung  men  wrill  have  slipped 
around  their  flank  and  come  galloping  back  to  the 
Platte,  leaving  the  old  men  and  women  and  worn- 
out  ponies  to  make  tracks  for  the  '  heap  walks'  to 
follow." 

And  Stevens  listened  dumbly.  Influence  he  had 
never  had.  Folsom  might  be  right,  but  it  was  a 
matter  in  which  he  was  powerless.  When  a  depot 


WARRIOR  GAP.  245 

quartermaster,  said  he,  could  dictate  the  policy  that 
should  govern  the  command  of  a  colonel  of  the 
fighting  force,  there  was  no  use  in  remonstrance. 
Noon  came  and  no  nexvs  from  the  Cheyenne  sheriff. 
The  commanding  officer  at  Russell  wired  that  he, 
too,  was  stripped  of  his  troops  and  had  not  even  a 
cavalry  courier  to  send  after  the  General  with  the 
startling  news  that  Major  Burleigh  had  vanished 
with  large  sums,  it  was  believed,  in  his  possession. 
At  one  o'clock  came  tidings  of  the  fugitive.  He, 
together  with  two  other  men,  had  spent  the  late 
hours  of  the  night  at  the  lodgings  of  one  of  the 
party  in  Cheyenne,  and  at  dawn  had  driven  away 
in  a  "  rig "  hired  at  a  local  stable,  ostensibly  to 
follow  the  General  to  Laramie.  They  had  kept  the 
road  northwestward  on  leaving  town — were  seen 
passing  along  the  prairie  beyond  Fort  Russell,  but 
deputies,  sworn  in  at  once  and  sent  in  pursuit,  came 
back  to  say  the  rig  had  never  gone  as  far  as  Lodge 
Pole.  At  six  P.M.  came  further  tidings.  Lieutenant 
Loring,  engineer  officer  of  the  department,  had 
reached  Cheyenne  and  was  in  consultation  with  the 
commanding  officer  at  Russell.  The  rig  had  been 
found  at  Sloan's  ranch,  far  up  Crow  Creek,  where 
the  party  had  taken  horses  and  ridden  westward 
into  the  Black  Hills.  In  anticipation  of  a  big 
reward,  the  sheriff  had  deputies  out  in  pursuit. 


246  WARRIOR  GAP. 

From  such  information  as  they  could  gather  It  was 
learned  that  the  name  of  one  of  the  parties  gone 
with  Burleigh  was  Newhall,  who  claimed  to  be  a 
captain  in  the  army,  "  out  there  looking  after  in 
vestments" — a  captain  who  was  too  busy,  however, 
to  go  and  see  the  few  fellows  of  his  cloth  at  the  new 
post  and  who  was  not  known  to  them  by  sight  at 
all.  The  engineer,  Mr.  Loring,  was  making  minute 
inquiries  about  this  fellow,  for  the  description  given 
him  had  excited  not  a  little  of  his  interest. 

And  so  the  sun  of  the  second  day  went  down  on 
Gate  City  and  Emory,  and  everybody  knew 
Burleigh  was  gone.  The  wildest  rumors  were 
afloat,  and  while  all  Fort  Emory  was  in  mourning 
over  the  tragedy  at  Warrior  Gap,  everybody  in 
town  seemed  more  vividly  concerned  in  Burleigh 
and  the  cause  of  his  sudden  flight.  As  yet  only 
certain  army  officers  and  Mr.  Folsom  knew  of  the 
startling  discovery  at  the  stockade — that  the  pack 
age  was  a  bogus  affair  throughout.  But  all  Gate 
City  knew  Burleigh  had  drawn  large  sums  from  the 
local  bank,  many  citizens  had  heard  that  John 
Folsom  was  several  thousand  dollars  the  poorer  for 
his  sudden  going,  and  all  interest  was  centered  in 
the  coming  from  Chicago  of  an  expert,  summoned 
by  wire,  to  open  the  huge  office  safe  at  the  quarter 
master's  depot  The  keys  had  gone  with  Burleigh. 


WARRIOR  GAP.  247 

At  the  last  moment,  after  loading  up  with  all  the 
cash  his  own  private  safe  contained,  for  that  was 
found  open  and  practically  empty  in  its  corner  of 
his  sitting-room,  and  when  he  had  evidently  gone  to 
the  office  to  get  the  funds  there  stored,  he  was  con 
founded  by  the  sight  of  the  two  employes.  He 
could  have  ordered  them  to  leave  and  then  helped 
himself,  but  conscience  had  made  a  coward  of  him, 
even  more  than  nature.  He  saw  accusers  in  every 
face,  and  fled.  Burleigh  had  lost  his  nerve. 

Two  days  went  by  and  excitement  was  at  its 
height.  All  manner  of  evil  report  of  Burleigh  was 
now  afloat.  The  story  of  the  bogus  package  had 
been  noised  abroad  through  later  messengers  and 
dispatches  from  the  Gap.  Lieutenant  Loring  had 
come  to  Fort  Emory  under  the  instructions  of  the 
department  commander,  and  what  those  instructions 
were  no  man  could  find  out  from  the  reticent  young 
officer.  If  ever  a  youth  seemed  capable  of  hearing 
everything  and  telling  nothing  it  was  this  scientist 
of  a  distinguished  corps  that  frontiersmen  knew  too 
little  of.  What  puzzled  Folsom  and  old  Pecksniff  was 
the  persistence  with  which  he  followed  up  his 
inquiries  about  Captain  Newhall.  He  even  sought 
an  interview  with  Pappooseand  asked  her  to  describe 
the  rakish  traveler  who  had  so  unfavorably  impressed 
her.  She  was  looking  her  loveliest  that  evening. 


248  WARRIOR  GAP. 

Jessie  was  radiant  once  more.  A  long  letter  had  come 
from  Marshall — sad  because  of  the  fate  that  had  be 
fallen  his  companions,  stern  because  of  the  evidence 
of  the  deep-laid  plot  that  so  nearly  made  him  a  vic 
tim,  but  modestly  glad  of  the  official  commendation 
he  had  received,  and  rejoicing  over  the  surgeon's 
promise  that  he  would  be  well  enough  to  make  the 
march  with  a  command  ordered  back  to  Frayne. 
Red  Cloud's  people  had  scattered  far  and  wide,  said 
he.  "  God  grant  they  may  not  turn  back  to  the 
south."  He  was  coming  home.  He  would  soon  be 
there.  The  papers  had  told  their  readers  this  very 
morning  that  the  General  had  plainly  said  his  force 
was  too  small  to  risk  further  assault  upon  the 
Sioux.  Alarmed  at  the  result  of  its  policy,  the 
Bureau  had  recommended  immediate  abandonment 
of  Warrior  Gap  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops 
from  the  Big  Horn  country.  The  War  Depart 
ment,  therefore,  had  to  hold  its  hand.  The  Indians 
had  had  by  long,  long  odds  the  best  of  the  tight, 
and  perhaps  would  be  content  to  let  well  enough 
alone.  All  this  had  tended  to  bring  hope  to  the 
hearts  of  most  of  the  girls,  and  Loring's  welcome 
was  the  more  cordial  because  of  this  and  because  of 
his  now  known  championship  of  Marshall's  cause. 
From  being  a  fellow  under  the  ban  of  suspicion  and 
the  cloud  of  official  censure,  Marshall  Dean  was 


WARRIOR  GAP.  249 

blossoming  out  as  a  hero.  It  was  late  in  the  evening 
when  Folsom  brought  the  young  engineer  from  the 
hotel  and  found  Elinor  and  Jessie  in  the  music- 
room,  with  Pecksniff's  adjutant  and  Loomis  in  de 
voted  attendance.  It  was  nearly  eleven  when  the 
'officers  left — two  returning  to  the  fort,  Loring 
lingering  for  a  word  with  Folsom  at  the  gate.  The 
night  was  still  and  breathless.  The  stars  gleamed 
brilliantly  aloft,  but  the  moon  was  young  and  had 
early  gone  to  bed.  A  window  in  the  third  story 
softly  opened,  as  the  two  men  stopped  for  their 
brief  conference — the  one  so  young-looking,  sturdy 
and  alert,  despite  the  frost  of  so  many  winters ;  the 
other  so  calm  and  judicial,  despite  his  youth. 

"  Up  to  this  afternoon  at  five  no  trace  of  them 
has  been  found,"  said  Loring.  "  Day  after  to-mor 
row  that  safe-opener  should  reach  us.  If  you  have 
influence  with  Colonel  Stevens  you  should  urge  him 
to  have  a  guard  at  the  quartermaster's  depot,  even 
if  he  has  to  strip  the  fort.  The  General  cannot  be 
reached  by  wire." 

"  Why  ?• '    asked   Folsom,  looking  up   in   alarm-  ^ 
"  You  don't  suppose  he'd  come  back  to  rob  his  own 
office  ?" 

"  He  is  not  the  man  to  take  a  risk,  but  there  are 
those  with  him  not  so  careful,  and  the  hand  that  ' 
sent  Birdsall's  gang  in  chase  of  Dean  could  send 


250  WARRIOR  GAP. 

them  here,  with  the  safe-key.  Those  few  clerks 
and  empli^es  would  be  no  match  for  them." 

"  By  heaven,  I  believe  you're  right !"  cried  Fol- 
som.  u  Which  way  are  you  going  now  ?" 

"  Back  to  the  hotel  by  way  of  the  depot,"  was  the 
answer.  u  Will  you  go  ?" 

"  One  moment.  I  do  not  travel  about  just  now 
without  a  gun,"  said  Folsom,  stepping  within  doors, 
and  even  the  low  sound  of  their  voices  died  away 
and  all  was  still  as  a  desert.  The  old  trader  did  not 
return  at  once.  Something  detained  him — Miss 
Folsom,  probably,  reasoned  the  engineer,  as  he 
stood  there  leaning  on  the  gate.  Aloft  a  blind 
creaked  audibly,  and,  gazing  upward,  Loring  saw 
a  dark,  shadowy  shutter  at  the  third-story  window 
swing  slowly  in.  There  was  no  wind  to  move  it. 
WThy  should  human  hands  be  so  stealthy?  Then  a 
dim  light  shone  through  the  slats,  and  the  shade  was 
raised,  and,  while  calmly  watching  the  performance, 
Loring  became  aware  of  a  dim,  faint,  far-away  click 
of  hcrse's  hoofs  at  the  gallop,  coming  from  the 
north. 

"  If  that  were  from  the  eastward,  now,"  thought 
he,  "  it  might  bring  stirring  news."  But  the 
sound  died  away  after  a  moment,  as  though  the 
rider  had  dived  into  sandy  soil. 

Just  then  Folsom  reappeared,     "  I  had  to  explain 


WARRIOR  GAP.  251 

to  my  daughter.  She  is  most  reluctant  to  have  me 
go  out  at  night  just  now." 

"  Naturally,"  said  Loring  calmly.  "  And  have 
you  been  way  up  to  the  third  story?  I  suppose 
Miss  Folsom  has  gone  to  her  room." 

"The  girls  have,  both  of  them— but  not  to  the 
third  story.  That's  Mrs.  Fletcher's  room." 

"Ah,  yes.  The  woman,  I  believe,  who  acci 
dentally  scared  your  horse  and  threw  you  ?" 

"  The  very  one !"  he  answered.  "  I'm  blessed  if 
I  know  what  should  have  taken  her  out  at  that 
hour.  She  sa\Ts  she  needed  air  and  a  walk,  but  why 
should  she  have  chosen  the  back-gate  and  the  alley 
as  a  way  to  air  and  sunshine  ?" 

"  Would  you  mind  taking  me  through  that  way  ?" 
asked  the  engineer  suddenly.  "  It's  the  short  cut 
to  the  depot,  I  understand." 

"  Why,  certainly.  I  hadn't  thought  of  that,"  said 
Folsom.  "  Come  right  on." 

And  so,  while  the  hoof -beats  up  the  road  grew 
louder,  the  two  turned  quickly  back  to  the  rear  of 
the  big  frame  house.  "  That  coming  horse  brings 
news,"  muttered  Loring  to  himself,  as  he  turned  the 
corner.  "We  can  head  him  off,  but  I  want  to  see 
tiiis  situation  first." 

Looking  away  southeastward  from  the  porch  of 
Folsom's  homestead,  one  could  see  in  the  daytime  a 


252  WARRIOR  GAP. 

vista  of  shingled  roofs  and  open  yards,  a  broad 
valley,  with  a  corral  and  inclosures  on  the  southern 
edge  of  the  town,  but  not  a  tree.  To-night  only 
dim  black  shadows  told  where  roof  and  chimney 
stood,  and  not  a  sign  could  they  see  of  the  depot. 
Loring  curiously  gazed  aloft  at  the  rear  and  side 
windows  of  the  third  story.  "  They  command  quite 
a  view,  I  suppose,"  said  he,  and  even  as  he  spoke  the 
sash  of  the  southeast  room  was  softly  raised,  the 
blind  swung  slightly  outward.  That  woman  watch 
ing  and  listening  again !  And  it  was  she  whose 
sudden  and  startling  appearance  at  the  rear  gate 
had  led  to  Folsom's  throw  so  early  the  morning 
Burleigh  and  his  mysterious  friend  were  found  miss 
ing  from  their  quarters  just  after  dawn — the  very 
morning  Dean,  with  his  treasure  package  and  little 
escort,  rode  forth  from  Emory  on  that  perilous  mis 
sion — the  very  morning  that  Birdsall  and  his 
murderous  gang  set  forth  from  Gate  City  in 
pursuit. 

And  now  those  hoof -beats  up  the  road  were 
coming  closer,  and  Folsom,  too,  could  hear  and  was 
listening,  even  while  studying  Loring's  face.  Sud 
denly  a  faint  gleam  shot  across  the  darkness  over 
head.  Glancing  quickly  upward,  both  men,  deep  in 
shadow,  saw  that  the  eastern  window  on  the 
southern  side  was  lighted  up.  Out  in  the  alleyway, 


GAP.  253 

low  yet  clear,  a  whistle  sounded — twice.  Then 
came  cautious  footsteps  down  the  back  stairs.  The 
bolt  of  the  rear  door  was  carefully  drawn.  A 
woman's  form,  tall  and  shrouded  in  a  long  cloak, 
came  swiftly  forth  and  sped  down  the  garden  walk 
to  that  rear  gate.  "  Come  on,  quick  !"  murmured 
the  engineer,  and  on  tiptoe,  wondering,  the  two 
men  followed.  They  saw  her  halt  at  the  barred 
gate.  Low,  yet  distinct  she  spoke  a  single  name : 
"  George !"  And  without,  in  the  alley,  a  voice 
answered  :  "  I'm  here !  open,  quick !" 

"  Swear  that  you  are  alone  !" 

"  Oh,  stop  that  damned  nonsense  !  Of  course 
I'm  alone  !"  was  the  sullen  reply,  and  at  the  sound 
of  the  voice  Loring  seemed  fairly  to  quiver.  The 
gate  was  unbarred.  A  man's  form,  slender  and 
shadowy,  squeezed  in  and  seemed  peering  cautiously 
about.  "  You  got  my  note  ?"  he  began.  "  You  know 
what's  happened  ?" 

But  a  woman's  muffled  scream  was  the  answer. 
With  a  spring  like  a  cat  Loring  threw  himself  on 
the  intruder  and  bore  him  down.  In  an  instant 
Folsom  had  barred  the  gate,  and  the  woman,  moan 
ing,  fell  upon  her  knees. 

"  Mercy  !  Mercy  !"  she  cried.  "  It  is  all  my 
fault.  I  sent  for  him." 

"  Take  your  hands  off,  damn  you,  or  you'll  pay 


254  WAlinfOR  GAP. 

for  this !"  cried  the  undermost  man.  "  I'm  Captain 
Newhall,  of  the  army  !" 

"  You're  a  thief  !"  answered  Loring,  through  his 
set  teeth.  "  Hand  over  the  key  of  that  safe  !" 

The  sound  of  hoof-beats  at  the  front  had  suddenly 
ceased.  There  was  a  sputter  and  scurry  in  the 
alley  behind.  Full  half  a  dozen  horses  mast  have 
gone  tearing  away  to  the  east.  Other  lights  were 
popping  in  the  windows  now.  Folsom's  household 
was  alarmed.  Attracted  by  the  scream  and  the 
sound  of  scuffle,  a  man  came  hurrying  toward  them 
from  the  front. 

"  Halt !  Who  are  you  ?"  challenged  Folsom, 
covering  him  with  his  revolver. 

"  Don't  shoot.  I'm  Ned  Lannion — just  in  from 
the  ranch.  Have  you  heard  anything  of  Hal,  sir  ?" 

"  Of  Hal  ?"  gasped  Folsom,  dropping  his  pistol  in 
dismay.  "  In  God's  name,  what's  wrong  ?" 

"  God  only  knows,  sir.  Mrs.  Hal's  nigh  crazy, 
He's  been  gone  two  days." 


WARRIOR  GAP.  255 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

FIVE  days  later  the  women  and  children  from 
Warrior  Gap,  most  of  them  bereaved,  all  of  them 
unnerved  by  the  experiences  of  that  awful  day, 
arrived  at  old  Fort  Frayne,  escorted  by  a  strong 
command  of  infantry  and  all  that  was  left  of  the 
cavalry  troop  at  the  stockade.  A  sad  procession  it 
was  as  it  slowly  forded  the  Platte  and  ascended  the 
winding  road  to  the  post,  where  sorrowing,  sympa 
thetic  army  women  met  and  ministered  to  them. 
With  them,  too,  came  such,  of  the  wounded  as  could 
be  moved,  and  at  the  head  of  the  little  squad  of 
horse  rode  Lieutenant  Dean,  whom  the  post  com 
mander  and  several  officers  greeted  almost  effu 
sively. 

Yet  almost  the  first  question  was,  :'  Did  you  see 
any  Indians?" 

"  Not  one,"  answered  Dean.  "  They  seem  to 
have  drawn  away  from  the  Big  Horn  road  entirely. 
Why  do  you  ask  ?"  he  added  anxiously. 

"  There  were  signal  fires  out  at  Eagle  Butte  last 
uiglit,  and  I've  just  had  a  letter  from  old  Folsom  at 


WARHlOH  GAP. 

the  ranch  on  the  Laramie.  He  begs  us  to  send  a 
guard  at  once,  and  I  haven't  a  horseman.  There's 
been  the  devil  to  pay  at  young  Folsom's  place." 

Dean's  face  went  a  shade  paler.  "  What's  hap 
pened  ?"  he  asked. 

"  A  dozen  of  his  best  horses  run  off  by  Birdsall's 
gang,  probably  to  replace  those  they  lost  in  the 
iiood,  and  Hal  himself  was  shot  and  left  for  dead  in 
the  hills.  He'd  have  died  but  for  an  Ogallalla  girl 
and  a  couple  of  half-breeds  who  had  a  hunting  lodge 
out  near  the  Peak.  There  are  letters  for  you  at  the 
office." 

There  were  two — one  from  Loomis,  at  Emory ; 
one  from  Jessie,  of  all  places  in  the  world,  at  Fol 
som's  ranch.  This  he  read  first. 

"  We  got  here  late  night  before  last,  after  such  an 
exciting  journey,  Marshall  dear,"  said  she,  "  and  I 
can't  begin  to  tell  you  all  the  strange  things  that 
have  happened,  for  Mr.  Folsom  says  the  messenger 
must  start  for  Fort  Frayne  in  twenty  minutes. 
That  villain,  Major  Burleigh,  who  dared  to  speak  ill 
of  you,  turned  out  to  be  as  bad  as  I  ever  said  he  was. 
They  haven't  caught  him  yet,  but  they've  got  Cap 
tain  New  hall.  Mr.  Folsom  and  Mr.  Loring  did  that 
— caught  him  in  the  backyard  of  our  house,  down 
by  the  gate,  and  in  some  way  Mrs.  Fletcher  induced 
him  to  come  there,  for  he  had  the  key  of  the  safe  at 
the  quartermaster's  depot,  and  was  going  to  get  the 
money  Major  Burleigh  dared  not  take  when  he  fled. 
I  can't  understand  it  at  all,  and  Fappoose  doesn't 


WA&RlOtl  GAP.  257 

like  to  talk  about  it.  But  Mr.  Folsom  was  robbed 
of  lots  of  money  by  Major  Burleigh.  Mrs.  Fletcher 
is  mixed  up  in  it  in  such  a  queer  way,  I  can't  ex 
plain  how.  She  was  nearly  crazy  when  we  came 
away,  and  Mr.  Folsom  was  so  good  and  kind  to  her, 
left  a  nurse  with  her,  and  made  her  stay  at  the 
house,  although  she  wanted  to  pack  her  things  and 
go  to  the  hotel  or  the  jail,  she  didn't  care  which ; 
but  he  wouldn't  let  her. 

"  And  right  in  the  midst  of  it  all  Ned  Lannion, 
who  came  with  news  before,  galloped  in  to  tell  how 
Halbert  Folsom  had  been  missing  two  days  and 
Mrs.  Folsom  was  crazy  with  fear,  so  Mr.  Folsom 
left  Lieutenant  Loring  to  attend  to  all  the  matters 
about  the  robbery  and  started  at  once  for  the  ranch, 
and  Pappoose,  of  course,  insisted  on  going  with  him, 
and  I  would  not  be  left  behind.  And  here  we  are. 
Now  I  can  see  the  hills  where  you  had  the  fight  and 
wore  Elinor's  picture,  and  it  was  right  out  there 
among  them  that  Halbert  was  found.  Horse 
thieves  had  run  off  his  best  horses — the  same  gang 
of  murderers  that,  they  say,  planned  to  trap  you 
and  that  you  outwitted.  Oh  !  Marshall,  was  ever  a 
girl  so  proud  of  her  brother  ! — and  they  shot  Hal 
and  he  was  found  and  taken  care  of  by  s*ome  Indian 
people,  tame  ones,  and  one  was  a  girl,  Lizette,  who 
had  fallen  in  love  with  him  four  years  ago.  Wasn't 
it  romantic  ?  And  she's  gone  again,  but  Hal  is  safe 
here,  although  Mrs.  Folsom  is  more  than  half-crazy, 
and  now  old  Mr.  Folsom  is  worried  to  death,  and 
says  we  must  start  back  for  home  to-morrow.  It's 
seventy-five  miles  and  we  don't  want  to  go  at  all, 
only  I'm  so  eager  to  see  you,  and  I  heard — at  least 
Mr.  Loomis  told  me  you'd  be  back  any  day,  and  he 
has  your  troop  till  you  come,  and  he's  so  fond  of 
you —  Oh,  here's  Pappoose  to  say  this  must  go  at 


258  WA&RIO&  GAP. 

The  colonel  sat  watching  the  young  fellow  as  he 
read.  "  Bad  news,  Dean  ?"  he  queried. 

"Every  kind  of  news,  sir.  It's  all  a  whirl.  The 
devil  seems  to  have  broken  loose  in  Wyoming.  Let 
me  skim  through  Loomis'  note. 

"DEAR  DEAN:  In  case  the  letter  sent  yesterday 
passes  you  on  the  way,  I  add  a  line  to  say  that  if 
ever  I  said  a  mean  thing  about  Loring  when  we 
were  in  the  corps,  I  take  it  back.  I  thought  him  a 
prig  when  we  wore  the  gray.  He  rather  'held  us 
under'  anyhow,  being  a  class  ahead,  you  know, 
but  the  way  he  lias  panned  out  here  and"  wiped  up 
Wyoming  with  the  only  men  I  ever  knew  that 
tried  to  wrong  you  is  simply  wonderful,  lie's 
nabbed  three  of  the  Birdsall  gang  and  is  away  now 
after  Burleigh.  The  news  from  Folsom's  ranch  is 
more  reassuring.  Hal  was  shot  by  horsethieves 
who  were  running  off  stock,  and  was  found  and 
taken  care  of  by  friendly  Indians,  but  Mrs.  Hal  had 
an  awful  scare  and  sent  for  the  old  man,  who  went, 
of  course — both  young  ladies  going  with  him.  They 
were  miles  away  before  we  knew  it  at  the  fort.  I 
tried  to  pursuade  old  Pecksniff  that  he  ought  to  let 
me  go  with  twenty  troopers  to  guard  the  ranch  and 
scout  the  Laramie,  and  he  threatened  to  put  me  in 
arrest.  Of  all  the  double-dashed,  pig-headed  old 
idiots  he's  the  worst.  I  don't  want  people  at  the 
ranch  to  be  scared,  but  if  the  Sioux  only  would 
make  some  demonstration  this  way  that  would  give 
me  a  chance.  I'd  try  to  earn  a  little  of  the  reputa 
tion  that  you're  winning,  old  boy,  and  no  man 
knows  better  how  much  you  deserve  it  than 

"  Your  friend  and  classmate,  HANK  L." 

"P.  S. — Loring  took  ten    of  the  troop  into  the 


WARRIOR  GAP. 

Black  Hills  to  beat  up  Burleigh,  but  he  said  if  they 
struck  Indian  sign  he  meant  to  make  for  P\>lsom's 
ranch.  Now,  if  we  could  only  meet  there !" 

The  sun  was  well  down  at  the  west.  The  day's 
march  had  been  long  and  tedious,  as  only  cavralry 
marches  are  when  long  wagon  trains  have  to  be 
escorted.  Dean  had  not  yet  fully  recovered  strength, 
but  anxiety  lent  him  energy. 

"  If  Mr.  Folsom  says  there  is  need  of  cavalry 
guard  at  the  Laramie,  it  is  because  he  dreads  an 
other  Indian  visit,  colonel.  I  have  nine  men  in 
good  shape.  Our  horses  are  fresh,  or  will  be  after 
a  few  hours'  rest,  May  I  push  on  to-night?" 

And  to  the  young  soldier's  surprise  the  elder 
placed  a  trembling  hand  upon  his  shoulder  and 
looked  him  earnestly  in  the  eyes.  "  Dean,  my 
boy,  it's  my  belief  you  cannot  start  too  soon.  Do 
you  know  who  Lizette  is  4" 

"  I've  heard  the  story, '^  said  Marshall  briefly. 
"  She  must  have  been  hovering  about  there  for 
some  time." 

"  Yes,  and  now  her  people  know  it,  and  it  will 
rekindle  their  hatred.  The  moment  I  heard  of  this 
I  sent  old  Bat  to  watch  the  crossing  at  La  Bonte. 
Not  an  hour  ago  this  came  in  by  the  hand  of  his 
boy,"  and  the  colonel  held  out  a  scrap  of  paper.  It 
a  rude  pictograph,  a  rough  sketch,  map-like,  of 


£66  WAtiRIOR  (^ A  P. 

a  winding  river — another  and  smaller  one  separated 
from  the  first  by  a  chain  of  mountains.  The  larger 
one  was  decorated  by  a  flag-pole  with  stars  and 
stripes  at  the  top  and  a  figure  with  musket  and 
bayonet  at  the  bottom.  The  smaller  one  by  a  little 
house,  with  smoke  issuing  from  the  chimney,  and  a 
woman  beside  it.  Above  all,  its  head  over  the 
mountains  pointing  toward  the  house,  its  tail  ex 
tending  north  of  the  bigger  stream,  was  a  comet — 
the  "  totem "  or  sign  of  the  Ogallalla  lover  of 
Lizette.  The  story  was  told  at  a  glance.  Burning 
Star  was  already  south  of  the  Platte  and  lurking  in 
the  mountains  near  Folsom's  ranch. 

That  night,  toward  ten  o'clock,  an  anxious  coun 
cil  was  held.  Ilalbert  Folsom,  fevered  by  his  severe 
wound,  was  lying  half-unconscious  on  his  bed,  his 
unhappy  wife  wandering  aimlessly  about  at  times, 
wringing  her  hands  and  weeping,  evidently  unbal 
anced  by  the  terrors  that  had  beset  her  of  late  and 
the  tidings  of  that  awful  Indian  revenge  along  the 
Big  Horn.  Silent,  helpful,  almost  commanding, 
Elinor  spent  the  hours  sometimes  at  her  brother's 
bedside,  then  at  that  of  her  sister-in-law  when  the 
poor  creature  could  be  induced  to  lie  still  a  moment. 
The  burly  little  son  and  heir,  long  since  sound 
asleep  in  his  cradle,  was  watched  over  by  Jessie, 
whose  heart  fluttered  in  dread  she  dare  not  say  of 


WARRIOR  GAP.  261 

what.  Twice  that  afternoon  she  had  seen  whispered 
conferences  between  old  Folsom  and  Lannion.  She 
knew  that  for  some  better  reason  than  that  he  was 
overpersuaded  by  Pappoose,  Mr.  Folsom  had  not 
carried  out  his  project  of  sending  them  back  to 
Gate  City.  She  saw  that  he  made  frequent  visits 
to  the  cellar  and  had  changed  the  arrangement  of 
the  air  ports.  She  noted  that  the  few  ranch  hands 
hung  about  the  premises  all  day,  their  rifles  ever 
within  reach,  and  that  often  Mr.  Folsom  took  the 
glasses  and  searched  the  road  to  Frayne.  She  saw 
that  earth  was  being  heaped  up  in  places  against 
the  ranch  where  the  walls  were  thin  or  made  of 
boarding.  She  saw  that  water  and  provisions  were 
being  stored  in  the  cellar,  and  she  knew  that  it 
could  all  mean  only  one  thing — that  the  Indians 
were  again  in  force  in  the  neighborhood,  and  that 
an  Indian  siege  was  imminent. 

And  all  this  time  Pappoose,  though  very  brave, 
was  so  still  and  so  intent  upon  her  duties.  Even 
when  supper  was  served  for  the  ranch  people  in 
the  kitchen  that  evening,  as  the  sun  went  down, 
Jess  noted  that  two  of  the  men  kept  constantly  in 
saddle,  riding  round  the  buildings  and  anxiously 
scanning  the  open  prairie  on  every  side«  There 
were  only  six  men,  all  told  now,  including  Folsom 
(of  course  not  counting  Hal,  who  was  defenseless), 


262  WARRIOR  GAP. 

altogether  too  small  a  number  to  successfully  pro 
tect  so  large  a  knot  of  buildings  against  an  insidious 
and  powerful  foe,  and  even  of  these  six  there  were 
two  who  seemed  so  unstrung  by  tidings  of  the  mas 
sacre  as  to  be  nearly  nerveless. 

Darkness  settled  down  upon  the  valley,  and, 
though  calm  and  collected,  Folsom  seemed  oppressed 
by  the  deepest  anxiety.  Every  now  and  then  he 
would  step  forth  into  the  night  and  make  a  circuit 
of  the  buildings,  exchange  a  word  in  low  tone  with 
some  invisible  guardian,  for,  heavily  armed,  the 
employes  were  gathered  at  the  main  building,  and 
the  wife  and  children  of  the  chief  herdsman  were 
assigned  to  a  room  under  its  roof.  Particularly  did 
Folsom  pet  and  encourage  the  dogs,  two  of  them 
splendid  mastiffs  in  whom  Hal  took  unusual  pride. 
Then  he  would  return  to  his  son's  bedside,  bend 
anxiously  over  him  and  lay  a  loving  hand  on  Pap- 
poose's  lustrous  hair.  It  must  have  been  ten  o'clock 
and  a  night  wind  was  rising,  making  the  occasional 
cry  of  the  coyotes  even  more  weird  and  querulous, 
when  they  heard  the  sudden,  fierce  challenge  of 
Trooper,  the  keenest,  finest  of  the  mastiffs,  and  in' 
stantly  his  bark  was  echoed  by  the  rush  and  scurry 
of  every  canine  on  the  place.  The  men  on  the 
porch  sprang  to  their  feet  and  Folsom  hastened  out 
to  join  them.  The  dogs  had  charged  in  the  dark- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  263 

ness  toward  the  northeast,  and  somewhere  out  in 
that  direction  were  now  all  furiously  barking. 
Aloft  the  skies  were  heavily  clouded.  The  moon 
was  banked  and  not  a  glimmer  of  light  shone  on 
earth  or  heaven.  Suddenly,  afar  out  over  the 
prairie,  beyond  where  the  dogs  were  challenging^ 
there  was  heard  the  sound  of  a  pony's  neigh,  an 
eager  appeal  for  welcome  and  shelter,  and  Folsom 
sprang  confidently  forward,  his  powerful  tones  call 
ing  off  the  dogs.  They  came  back,  growling,  sniff 
ing,  only  half-satisfied,  still  bristling  at  the  unseen 
visitor.  "  War  ponies  never  neigh,"  said  Folsom. 
"  Who  are  you,  brothers — friends  ?"  he  called,  in  the 
Sioux  tongue,  and  a  faint  voice  answered  from  the 
darkness,  a  pony  came  loping  dimly  into  view, 
almost  running  over  him,  and  in  another  minute  an 
Indian  girl,  trembling  with  fear  and  exhaustion, 
had  toppled  from  the  saddle  and  clasped  the  old 
trader's  hand. 

"Good  God!  Lizette,"  he  cried,  "you  again? 
What  is  wrong  ?"  for  her  head  was  drooping,  her 
knees  giving  way  beneath  her,  as  the  poor  child 
whispered  her  answer : 

"Sioux  coming — plenty  braves!     Hide — quick!" 
And  Folsom  bore  her  in  his  arms  within. 


264  WARRIOR  GAP. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

unless  sure  of  its  ground  and  the  weak 
ness  of  the  adversary  does  the  modern  Indian  band 
attack  at  night.  Folsom  and  his  people  well  knew 
that.  Yet  not  five  minutes  after  the  Indian  girl, 
faint  with  exhaustion  and  dread,  was  carried  within 
doors,  the  big  mastiff  challenged  again.  The  dogs 
charged  furiously  out  to  the  northeast  and  would 
not  be  recalled.  For  nearly  half  an  hour  they  kept 
up  their  angry  clamor.  Time  and  again  during  the 
night,  suspicious  and  excited,  they  dashed  out  again 
and  again,  and  once  one  of  them,  venturing  further 
than  his  fellows,  broke  suddenly  into  loud  cries  of 
mingled  pain  and  rage,  and  when  at  last  he  came 
whining  piteously  back  to  the  ranch  it  was  found 
that  he  was  bleeding  from  a  gash  along  the  flank, 
where  an  Indian  arrow  had  seared  him.  Only  by 
fits  and  starts  did  any  man  sleep.  Hour  after  hour 
JFolsom's  little  garrison  was  on  the  alert.  The 
women  had  all  been  moved  to  the  deep,  dry  cellar, 
Mrs.  Hal  moaning  over  her  baby,  utterly  unnerved, 
Jessie  silent,  but  white  and  tremulous ;  the  herds- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  265 

man's  wife,  an  Amazon,  demanded  the  right  to  have 
a  gun  and  fight  by  her  husband's  side  ;  Lizette,  the 
Indian  girl,  faint  and  starved,  asked  nothing  but  to 
be  allowed  to  crouch  at  the  door  of  the  room  where 
Halbert  lay,  fevered  and  unconscious,  and  Pap- 
poose,  scorning  danger,  flitted  from  her  brother's 
bedside  to  her  father's  log-barricade  at  the  east 
porch.  In  dread  anxiety  the  hours  dragged  by,  and 
at  last  Lannion  reached  forth  his  hand  and  pulled 
the  shirt  sleeve  of  his  comrade  Jake,  half-dozing  at 
his  side.  In  an  instant  the  latter  was  kneeling  at 
his  post.  "What  is  it?"  he  queried,  and  Lannion, 
pointing  to  the  first  faint,  pallid  gleam  in  the  eastern 
sky,  whispered :  "  Time  to  be  up,  man.  It's 
coming." 

For  half  an  hour,  except  for  the  rushing  of  the 
Laramie,  a  silence  almost  unearthly  had  brooded 
over  the  prairie,  and  even  the  dogs  seemed  lulled  to 
sleep.  But  now,  as  the  cold  light  crept  slowly  over 
the  distant  range,  and  a  soft  flush  began  to  over 
spread  the  pallor  of  the  dawn,  far  out  over  the 
valley  the  }^elp  of  a  coyote  began  again  and  all  men 
strained  their  ears  and  listened,  while  strong  hands 
grabbed  the  growling  dogs  and  pinned  them  to 
earth,  for,  beginning  at  the  east,  the  cry  was  taken 
up  on  every  side.  Folsom's  ranch  seemed  belea- 
.guered  by  the  gaunt,  half-famished  wolves  of  the  up- 


266  WARRIOR  GAP. 

land  prairies.  "  Look  to  your  sights,  now,  men ! 
Down  into  the  cellar,  Pappoose !"  exclaimed  Folsom, 
kindling  with  fierce  excitement.  "I've  been  the 
friend  of  all  that  tribe  for  thirty  years,  but  when 
they  break  faith  with  me  and  mine  that  ends  it ! 
Look  to  your  sights  and  make  every  shot  count !" 
he  cautioned,  as  he  made  the  rounds  of  the  little 
shelters  thrown  up  during  the  past  two  days.  "  "We 
can  stand  off  a  hundred  of  'em  if  you  only  keep 
your  grit." 

Again  the  clamor  as  of  coyotes  ceased.  It  was 
only  the  Indian  signal  "  Ready,"  and  every  ranch 
man  knew  that  with  the  rising  sun,  if  not  before, 
the  swoop  would  come.  Again  as  the  light  broad 
ened  the  dogs  were  loosed  and  presently  were 
challenging  all  four  points  of  the  compass.  The 
unseen  foe  was  on  every  hand. 

Perched  as  it  was  on  a  little  rise,  the  ranch  stood 
forth  conspicuous  over  the  valley.  At  the  foot 
of  the  slope  to  the  south  lay  the  corral  and  some  of 
the  buildings,  about  one  hundred  yards  away,  where 
the  shallow  Laramie  curled  and  lapped  beneath 
their  walls,  and  now  the  dogs  seemed  to  concentrate 
their  attention  on  that  side.  Folsom,  rifle  in  hand, 
was  kneeling  on  the  porch,  listening  intently.  Two 
of  the  hands  were  with  him.  Jake  and  Lannion, 
experienced  and  reliable,  had  been  given  independ- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  26? 

ent  posts  on  the  other  front,  and  just  as  objects 
could  be  dimly  recognized  along  the  flats,  there 
burst  upon  the  ears  of  the  little  garrison  a  sudden 
ehorus  of  exultant  yells.  A  tongue  of  flame  leaped 
upward  from  beyond  the  huts  lately  occupied  by 
the  ranchmen.  The  half-used  haystacks  caught  and 
held  one  moment  the  fiery  messenger,  and  then  in 
a  broad  glare  that  reddened  the  flood  of  the  Lar- 
amie  for  miles  and  lighted  up  the  ranch  like  a  sun 
burst,  gave  forth  a  huge  column  of  blaze  and  smoke 
that  could  be  seen  far  over  the  Black  Bills  of 
"Wyoming,  and  all  the  valley  seemed  to  spring  to 
instant  life.  On  every  side  arose  the  stirring  war- 
cry  of  the  Sioux,  the  swift  beat  of  pony  hoofs,  the 
ring  of  rifle,  and  brave  John  Folsom's  heart  sank 
within  him  as  he  realized  that  here  was  no  mere 
marauding  party,  but  a.  powerful  band  organized 
for  deliberate  vengeance.  The  Laramie  plains  were 
alive  with  darting,  yelling,  painted  horsemen,  cir 
cling  about  the  ranch,  hemming  it  in,  cutting  it  off 
from  the  world. 

The  bullets  came  whistling  through  the  morning 
air,  biting  fiercely  into  the  solid  logs,  spattering  the 
chinking,  smashing  pane  after  pane.  Some  of  the 
dogs  came  howling  and  whining  back  for  shelter, 
though  the  mastiffs  held  their  ground,  fiercely  bark 
ing  and  bounding  about,  despite  the  whistles  and 


268  WARRIOR  GAP. 

calls  from  the  besieged  who  sought  to  save  them  to 
the  last,  but  not  once  as  yet  had  the  ranch  replied 
with  a  shot.  Down  in  the  cellar  women  clung  to 
gether  or  clasped  their  wailing  children  and  listened 
fearfully  to  the  clamor.  In  Hal's  room  the  fevered 
sufferer  awoke  from  his  stupor  and,  demanding  his 
rifle,  struggled  to  rise  from  the  bed,  and  there  John 
Folsom  found  Pappoose,  pale  and  determined,  bend 
ing  over  her  weakened  brother  and  holding  him 
down  almost  as  she  could  have  overpowered  a 
child.  Lifting  his  son  in  his  strong  arms,  he  bore 
him  to  the  cellar  and  laid  him  upon  a  couch  of 
buffalo  robes.  "  Watch  him  here,  my  child,"  he 
said,  as  he  clasped  her  in  his  arms  one  moment. 
"  But  on  no  account  let  any  one  show  above  ground 
now.  There  are  more  of  them  than  I  thought,  yet 
there  is  hope  for  us.  Somebody  is  vexing  them 
down  the  Laramie." 

Bounding  up  the  steps,  the  veteran  was  almost 
back  at  his  post  upon  the  porch  when  there  came  a 
sound  that  seemed  to  give  the  lie  to  his  last  words 
and  that  froze  the  hope  that  had  risen  in  his  breast 
— the  sudden  rumble  and  thunder  of  at  least  two 
hundred  hoofs,  the  charging  yell  of  an  Indian  band, 
the  sputter  and  bang  of  rifles  close  at  hand,  and 
then  a  rush  of  feet,  as,  with  faces  agonized  by  fear, 
three  of  the  men  came  darting  within.  "  It's  all 


GAP. 


tip!  There's  a  million  Indians!"  they  cried.  Two 
of  the  demoralized  fellows  plunged  into  the  passage 
that  led  to  the  cellar.  One  burst  into  childish  wail 
ing  and  clung  to  Folsoin's  knees. 

u  Let  go,  you  coward  !"  yelled  the  old  man  in 
fury,  as  he  kicked  himself  loose,  then  went  bound 
ing  out  upon  the  porch.  God,  what  a  sight  !  Sweep 
ing  up  the  gentle  slope,  brandishing  rifles  and  lan.ces 
and  war-clubs,  racing  for  their  hapless  prey,  came 
fifty  Ogallallas,  Burning  Star  among  the  leaders. 
Bullets  could  not  stop  them  now.  The  two  men 
who  had  stood  to  their  posts  knelt  grim  and  des 
perate,  and  Lannion's  last  shot  took  effect.  Within 
fifty  yards  of  the  walls  Burning  Star's  rushing 
pony  went  down  on  his  nose,  and  in  the  fury  of  his 
pace,  turned  sudden  and  complete  somersault,  crush 
ing  his  red  rider  under  him,  and  stretching  him 
senseless  on  the  turf.  An  inspiration,  almost  God 
given,  seemed  to  flash  upon  the  old  trader  at  the 
instant.  Bareheaded,  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  throwing 
upward  and  forward  his  empty  hands,  he  sprang 
out  as  though  to  meet  and  rebuke  his  assailants. 
"  Hold  !"  he  cried,  in  the  tongue  he  knew  so  well 
"  Are  my  brothers  crazed  ?  Look  !  I  am  no  enemy 
It  is  your  friend  !  It  is  old  John  !"  And  even  in 
the  rage  of  their  charge,  many  Indians  at  sight  of 
him  veered  to  right  and  left  ;  many  reined  up  shon 


WAittllOR  GAP. 


within  ten  paces  of  the  unarmed  man  ;  two  sprang 
from  their  ponies  and  threw  themselves  between  him 
and  their  brethren,  shouting  to  be  heard,  And  then 
in  the  midst  of  furious  discussion,  some  Indians  cry 
ing  out  for  the  blood  of  all  at  the  ranch  in  revenge 
for  Chaska,  some  demanding  instant  surrender  of 
every  woman  there  in  expiation  for  Lizette,  some 
urging  that  old  John  be  given  respectful  hearing, 
but  held  prisoner,  there  came  lashing  into  their 
midst  a  young  brave,  crying  aloud  and  pointing 
down  the  now  well-lighted  valley  where,  darting 
about  a  mile  away,  a  few  Indians  were  evidently 
striving  to  head  off  the  coming  of  some  hostile 
force.  Leaving  two  or  three  of  their  number  trying 
to  restore  consciousness  to  the  stricken  chief,  and  a 
dozen,  Folsom's  advocates  among  them,  to  hold  pos 
session  of  the  ranch,  away  scurried  most  of  the 
warriors  at  top  speed  to  the  aid  of  their  outlying 
scouts. 

Meantime,  under  cover  of  the  fierce  argument, 
Jake  and  Lannion  had  managed  to  crawl  back 
within  the  building.  Folsom  himself,  in  such  calm 
as  he  could  command,  stood  silent  while  his  captors 
wrangled.  The  warriors  who  pleaded  for  him  were 
Standing  Elk,  a  sub  chief  of  note,  whose  long  at 
tachment  to  Folsom  was  based  on  kindnesses  shown 
him  when  a  young  man.  the  other  was  Young-Shows- 


WARRIOR  GAP.  271 

the-Hoad,  son  of  a  chief  who  had  guided  more  than 
one  party  of  whites  through  the  lands  of  the  Sioux 
before  the  bitterness  of  war  arose  between  the 
races.  They  had  loved  Folsom  for  years  and  would 
not  desert  him  now  in  the  face  of  popular  clamor. 
Yet  even  their  influence  would  have  failed  but  for 
the  sound  that  told  of  hotter  conflict  still  among 
the  foothills  along  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley. 
With  straining  ears,  Folsom  listened,  hope  and  fear 
alternating  in  his  breast.  The  mingling  yells  and 
volleying  told  that  the  issue  was  in  doubt.  Man 
after  man  of  his  captors  galloped  away  until  not 
half  a  dozen  were  left.  Now,  Jake  and  Lannion 
could  have  shot  them  down  and  borne  him  within, 
but  to  what  good  ?  Escape  from  the  ranch  itself 
was  impossible !  Such  action  would  only  intensifj71 
the  Indian  hate  and  make  more  horrible  the  Indian 
vengeance.  For  twenty  minutes  the  clamor  con 
tinued,  then  seemed  to  die  gradually  away,  and, 
with  fury  in  their  faces,  back  at  full  gallop  came  a 
dozen  of  the  braves.  One  glance  was  enough.  They 
had  penned  their  foe  among  the  rocks,  but  not  with 
out  the  loss  of  several  at  least  of  their  band,  for  the 
foremost  rode  with  brandished  war-club  straight  at 
Folsom,  and  despite  the  leap  of  his  two  champions 
to  save,  felled  the  old  trader  with  one  stunning 
blow,  then  gave  the  savage  order  to  burn  the  ranchr 


w  APMQH  GAP. 


By  this  time  the  sun  was  just  peering  into  the 
valley.  The  smoke  and  flame  from  the  corral  were 
dying  or  drifting  away.  Eagerly  half  a  dozen 
young  braves  rushed  for  faggots  and  kindling  with 
which  to  do  his  bidding,  and  a  cry  of  despair  went 
up  from  within  the  walls.  Recklessly  now  Lannion 
and  his  comrade  opened  fire  from  the  loopholes  and 
shot  down  two  of  the  dancing  furies  without,  send 
ing  every  other  Indian  to  the  nearest  cover.  But 
the  arrows  that  came  whistling  speedily  were  fire 
brands.  The  besiegers  gained  in  force  with  every 
moment.  Poor  old  Folsom,  slowly  regaining  senses 
as  he  lay  bound  and  helpless  down  by  the  stream, 
whither  his  captors  had  borne  him,  heard  the  jeers 
and  shouts  of  triumph  with  which  the  Indians 
within  the  corral  were  rapidly  making  their  fire 
darts,  when  suddenly  there  rose  on  the  morning  air 
a  sound  that  stilled  all  others,  a  sound  to  which  the 
Indians  listened  in  superstitious  awe,  a  sound  that 
stopped  the  h  ands  that  sought  to  burn  out  the  be 
sieged  and  paralyzed  just  long  enough  all  inspiration 
of  attack.  Some  of  the  Indians,  indeed,  dropped 
their  arms,  others  sprang  to  the  ponies  as  though  to 
take  to  flight.  It  was  the  voice  of  Lizette,  chanting 
the  death  song  of  the  Sioux. 

An  hour  later,  once  more  in  force,  the  band  was 
gathered  for  its  rush  upon  the  ranch.  Jake,  gallant 


WARRIOR  OAF,  273 

fellow,  lay  bleeding  at  his  post.  Hope  of  every 
kind  was  well-nigh  dead.  The  silence  without  was 
only  portent  of  the  storrn  so  soon  to  burst*  Pap- 
poose.  grasping  her  brother's  rifle,  crouched  facing 
the  narrow  entrance  to  the  cellar.  Jessie  clung  to  the 
baby,  for  Mrs.  Hal,  only  dimly  conscious,  was  moan 
ing  by  her  husband's  side,  while  Lizette  in  silence 
was  kneeling,  watching  them  with  strange  glitter  in 
her  eyes.  Suddenly  she  started,  and  with  hand  to 
ear,  listened  intently.  Then  she  sprang  to  an  air 
port  and  crouched  there,  quivering.  Then  again 
the  ground  began  to  tremble  under  the  distant 
thunder  of  pony  feet,  louder  and  louder  every 
second.  Again  came  the  rush  of  the  Indian  braves, 
but  with  it  no  exultant  yell,  only  cries  of  warning(/ 
and  as  this  sound  swept  over  and  beyond  their 
walls.  the~e  followed  another,  the  distant5  deep- 
throated  trooper  cheer,  the  crack  of  carbine,  the 
rising  thunder  of  the  cavalry  gallop,  and  then  the 
voice  of  .Ned  Lannion  rang  jubilantly  over  the  dull 
clamor. 

'•Up!    Up,  everybody!    Thank  God,  it's  Dean 
and  the  boys 1" 


Long  years  after,  in  the  camps  and  stockades  and 
the  growing  towns  of  the  far  West  that  almost 


£74  WARRIOR  GAP. 

marvelous  rescue  was  the  theme  of  many  an  hour's 
talk  The  number  of  men  who  took  part  in  it,  the 
number  of  hardy  fellows  who  personally  guided 
the  troops  or  else  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with 
Ned  Lannion  at  the  last  triumphant  moment,  in 
creased  so  rapidly  with  the  growing  moons  that  in 
time  the  only  wonder  was  that  anything  was  left  of 
the  Sioux.  Official  records,  however,  limited  the 
number  of  officers  and  men  engaged  to  a  select  few, 
consisting  entirely  of  Lieutenant  Loring,  United 
States  Engineers,  Lieutenant  Loomis,  — th  Infantry, 
a  few  men  from  scattered  troops,  "pickups"  at 
Frayne  and  Emory,  with  Lieutenant  Marshall  Dean 
and  fifty  rank  and  file  of  Company  "  C." 

Loring,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  taken  a  small 
detachment  from  Emory  and  gone  into  the  hills  in 
search  of  Burleigh.  Loomis,  fretting  at  the  fort, 
was  later  electrified  by  a  most  grudgingly  given 
order  to  march  to  the  Laramie  and  render  such  aid 
as  might  be  required  by  the  engineer  officer  of  the 
department.  Dean,  with  only  fifteen  men  all  told, 
had  dashed  from  Frayne  straight  for  the  ranch,  and, 
marching  all  night,  had  come  in  sight  of  the  valley 
just  as  it  was  lighted  afar  to  the  eastward  by  the 
glare  of  the  burning  buildings.  "  We  thought  it 
was  all  over,"  said  he,  as  he  lay  there  weak  and 
languid,  a  few  days  later,  for  the  wound  reopened 


WARRIOR  GAP.  275 

in  the  rush  of  the  fight,  "but  we  rode  OB  to  the 
Laramie,  and  them  God  be  thanked  !  fell  in  with 
Loomis  here  and  "  C"  Troop,  heading  for  the  fire, 
No  words  can  tell  you  our  joy  when  we  found  the 
ranch  still  standing  and  some  forty  Sioux  getting 
ready  for  the  final  dash.  That  running  fight,  past 
the  old  home,  and  down  the  valley  where  we  stirred 
up  Loring's  besiegers  and  sent  them  whirling  too— r 
why,  I'd  give  a  fortune,  it  1  had  it,  to  live  it  over 
again ! " 

But  Loring,  after  all,  had  the  most  thrilling  story 
to  tell — of  how  he  wormed  a  clew  to  Burleigh's 
hiding  place  out  of  a  captured  outlaw  and  beat  up 
the  party  in  a  nook  of  the  hills,  nabbed  the  major 
asleep,  but  was  warned  that  all  the  Birdsall  "  outfit " 
would  rally  to  the  rescue,  and  so  sent  a  courier  to 
Emory  for  "  C  "  Troop,  and,  making  wide  detour  to 
avoid  the  gang,  ran  slap  into  the  Sioux  in  the  act  of 
firing  Folsom's  ranch.  Then  he  had  to  take  to  the 
rocks  in  the  fight  that  followed,  and  had  a  desper 
ate  siege  of  a  few  hours,  even  Burleigh  having  to 
handle  a  gun  and  fight  for  his  life.  "  I  spotted  him 
for  a  coward  that  day  we  stumbled  on  Eed  Cloud's 
band  up  by  the  Big  Horn.  You  remember  it,  Deanr 
3  thought  him  a  villain  Avhen  I  learned  how  he  was 
trying  to  undermine  you.  Time  proved  him  a  thief 
and  a  scoundrel,  but,  peace  to  bis  ashes,  be  dieci 


276  WARRIOR  GAP. 

like  a  gentleman  after  all,  with  two  Indian  bullets 
through  him,  and  just  as  rescue  came.  He  had  time 
to  make  full  confession,  and  it  was  all  pretty  much 
as  I  suspected.  The  note  Dean  picked  up  at  fteno, 
that  so  stampeded  him,  told  how  a  blackmailing 
scoundrel  was  on  his  way  to  Emory  to  expose  him 
unless  headed  off  by  further  huge  payments.  Jt 
was  the  fellow  who  called  himself  Newhall." 

"The  fellow  who  gave  the  tip  to  Birdsall's 
people  ?*'  said  old  Folsom  at  this  juncture,  raising  a 
bandaged  head  from  his  daughter's  lap.  *•  Who 
was  he,  really  ?" 

"  Burleigh  knew  all  the  time  and  I  suspected  the 
moment  1  heard  Miss  Folsom's  description,  and  was 
certain  the  instant  I  laid  eyes  on  him.  He  was  a 
rascally  captain  cashiered  at  Yuma  the  year  before, 
and  I  was  judge  advocate  of  the  court." 

"And  Mrs.  Fletcher?"  asked  Pappoose,  extend 
ing  one  hand  to  Jess,  while  the  other  smoothed  the 
gray  curls  on  her  fathers  forehead. 

"Mrs.  Fletcher  was  his  deserted  wife,  one  of 
those  women  who  have  known  better  days." 

The  ranch  is  still  there,  or  was  twenty  years  ago, 
but  even  then  the  Sioux  were  said  to  raise  more 
hair  in  the  neighborhood  than  Folsom  did  cattle. 
The  old  trader  had  been  gathered  to  his  fathers, 
a-nd  Mrs.  Hal  to  hers?  for  she  broke  down,  utterly 


WARRIOR  GAP.  277 

after  the  events  of  J68.  Neither  Pappoose  nor 
Jessie  cared  to  revisit  the  spot  for  some  time,  yet, 
oddly  enough,  both  have  done  so  more  than  once. 
The  first  time  its  chronicler  ever  saw  it  was  in  com 
pany  with  a  stalwart  young  captain  of  horse  and 
his  dark-eyed,  beautiful  wife  nine  years  after  the 
siege.  Hal  met  us,  a  shy,  silent  fellow,  despite  his 
inches.  "  Among  other  things,"  said  he,  "  Lieuten 
ant  and  Mrs.  Loomis  are  coming  next  week.  I  wish 
you  might  all  be  here  to  meet  them." 

"  I  know,"  said  Mrs.  Dean,  "  we  are  to  meet  at 
Cheyenne.  But,  Hal,  where's  your  wife  ?" 

He  looked  shyer  still.  "She  don't  like  to  meet 
folks  unless " 

"There's  no  unless  about  it,"  said  the  lady  with 
all  her  old  decision  as  she  sprang  from  the  ambu 
lance,  and  presently  reappeared,  leading  by  the 
hand,  reluctant,  yet  not  all  unhappy,  Lizette.  Some 
people  said  Hal  Folsom  had  no  business  to  marry 
an  Indian  girl  before  his  wife  was  dead  three  years, 
but  all  who  knew  Lizette  said  he  did  perfectly 
right,  at  least  Pappoose  did,  and  that  settled  it.  As 
for  Loring —  But  that's  enough  for  one  story. 

THE  END. 


'&NIA  LIBRARY 


IR12538 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


